Broad stays tight lipped on captaincy
STUART Broad was giving little away yesterday when asked if he wants to replace Alastair Cook as England Test captain.
England director of cricket Andrew Strauss has spoken with Broad, clear favourite Joe Root and Ben Stokes about the role.
Questioned if he had thrown his hat into the ring for the captaincy, Broad told reporters while at Buckingham Palace to receive his MBE : “No, not specifically.
“I’ve played for England a long time now, I think over 10 years. As a senior player you’re always going to share views to coaches and talk to hierarchies about how the team should move forward.
“I think it’s always important when you make a big decision about the team moving forward that players who’ve been involved and who you see leading the team forward in the next few years are consulted.
“Look, Andrew Strauss is probably one of the best decision makers I’ve ever played with, when he was captain, and now he’s moved into the top of English cricket I’m sure he will consider all options and make a very sensible and good decision.”
Root remains the favourite to replace Cook, who announced his resignation on Monday after fourand-a-half years in charge.
But Strauss indicated talks would be held with multiple candidates and discussions took place with Root, Stokes and Broad on Thursday.
The meetings, however, were informal in their nature, with Strauss looking to gauge views on who should succeed Cook, as well as the trio’s own interest in taking on the captaincy.
It is expected that formal interviews will take place next week.
The new captain will be announced before England’s oneday squad fly out to the Caribbean on February 22 for three matches against the West Indies.
His first Test fixture in charge will come against South Africa at Lord’s in July, which will be the first leg of a four-match series.
There will then be a three-match home series against West Indies in August before England’s greatest challenge, an away Ashes series, begins in Brisbane in November.
Broad, England Twenty20 skipper from 2011 to 2014, was evasive on the subject of who he wants to be the next Test captain.
“That’s a decision that obviously Andrew Strauss and James Whitaker and the [other] selectors will consider quite a lot over the next few weeks,” he said.
“The great thing with the next Test match being in July against South Africa, there’s no real rush into the decision.
“I thought Cookie was very wise to take his time and not make an emotional decision on whether he wanted to lead the team forward, but as a selfless man he decided that this team needed a slightly new energy and direction and whoever gets the job will certainly bring that come July.”
Broad hopes he and Cook, whose captaincy he praised, can play Test cricket together for some time to come.
“He was one of England’s most successful captains. With two Ashes series behind him, winning in India, winning away in South Africa,” added Broad.
“A fantastic man to play under, a calm guy, the sort of guy that whoever meets him will only have good words to say about him.
“He’s been a pleasure to play with and hopefully we’ll play a lot more together. Obviously he won’t be captain of the team but he’ll have huge success over the next few years I’m sure.”