Nasser Hussain: Ben Stokes must be "in right place physically and mentally" to replace Joe Root

Root stepped down from the role on Friday after five years at the helm, at a time when the Test team is in the depths of one of its deepest ruts - a run of one victory in 17 matches and no series victory in five attempts

Ben Stokes might be the "obvious choice" to succeed Joe Root as England Test captain, but Nasser Hussain has warned that the allrounder must not take on the role if he is not in the right mental and physical state.

Root stepped down from the role on Friday after five years at the helm, at a time when the Test team is in the depths of one of its deepest ruts - a run of one victory in 17 matches and no series win in five attempts.

Stokes, the vice-captain, is the natural successor. He has led the England Test side in Root's absence when the Yorkshireman was on paternity leave in 2020, has the respect of both his and opponents' dressing rooms, and knows the stresses, strains and complexities of the international red-ball game.

Hussain, however, is wary that it could present a significant burden, who has recently spent time out of the game for both injury and mental health reasons.

^{Ben Stokes is the favourite to succeed Stuart Broad as England Test captain}

"The difficult thing for Stokes is the point I made about the toll it takes on you as a captain. You have to be in the right place mentally and physically," Hussain told Sky Sports.

"Obviously, Ben's been through some issues mentally off the field of late, and if I was the new managing director of cricket, the very first journey I would be making would be to go and have a cup of coffee with Ben and ask him where he is with his game, with his life away from his game to make sure he's in the right place.

"From what I see, the players hang on every word Stokes says in that dressing room. He doesn't even have to say anything, and they look in his direction to see his reaction. He's so well respected in that dressing room and Root would love playing under Stokes. Root is the sort of guy would play under anyone, but Root would give his everything for Stokes."

Root's decision to stand aside, rather than waiting to be pushed, could make the transition to Stokes' leadership much easier, according to another former England skipper - Michael Atherton.

"The one great defining characteristic of Ben Stokes is loyalty, and he's very loyal to Joe Root as his No.2, and very good friends with him," Atherton said.

"He will feel a lot easier about accepting the job, if indeed it comes his way, given that Root has stepped down of his own accord rather than been pushed out of the door. I think that helps the accession for Stokes if it comes."

^{Stuart Broad has been suggested as an option}

Other than Stokes, there are few standout options for the new managing director of England men's cricket to look to when Root's successor is appointed in due course.

The managing director role, made vacant by the sacking of Ashley Giles following the dismal Ashes campaign, is expected to be filled next week. Aside from Stokes, perhaps the only realistic candidate is Stuart Broad.

"[He] has an excellent cricket brain, is a real fighter, a real competitor, and he's got a point to prove after what's happened in the last few months and we know what Broad is like when he's got a point to prove," Hussain said.

"Pat Cummins has led Australia as a bowler brilliantly, so in the short term, I can see Broad doing a similar thing."

Related Topics

• Joe Root resigns as England Test captain