Mike Brearley: Ben Stokes could become a fine England captain

HUWZAT ON WEDNESDAY: Tony Greig, Ian Botham, Andrew Flintoff and Stokes – all incredible allrounders – have mixed records as England Test skippers

Mike Brearley believes Ben Stokes can become a successful Test captain, despite the disappointment of losing the first Test against West Indies this summer.

Stokes was in charge at the Ageas Bowl when Joe Root departed on paternity leave. His decision to bat first, and the call to omit Stuart Broad, came under close scrutiny as England lost by four wickets.

Root subsequently returned and has won three and drawn two of the last five Tests of the summer. His captaincy looks safe until the 2021/22 Ashes, when he will look for revenge after the 2017/18 whitewash.

Stokes could then emerge as his successor, and Brearley is just the man to ask about this. For he came out of international retirement to lead England in the 1981 Ashes, when another great talismanic allrounder, Sir Ian Botham, found the position too much on top of all his other responsibilities.

Tony Greig, Botham, Andrew Flintoff and Stokes – those incredible allrounders – have mixed records as England Test skippers.

“I think there are some players who cannot not be selected as captain, and Ben Stokes is one,” Brearley told The Cricketer.

“It is almost like they are so larger than life, they are so inspiring as players [that they have to be given the role]… Ben is an inspiring man for people. Andrew Flintoff was given the role in Australia in 2006/07. Sometimes the best players are not the best captains, though.

^{Stokes captained England at the Ageas Bowl against West Indies in the first Test of the summer}

“I don’t know about the ins and outs of selection for that Test. Maybe Joe Root had a say in going for Mark Wood instead of Broad. The job could come Ben’s way after the Ashes. I think Stokes can be a good captain – but then I thought that about Ian Botham…

“Ian had 12 Tests as England captain, but nine were against West Indies, so dominant at the time. The thing that happened to him, and I didn’t think it would, is that he didn’t bat or bowl as well as he could do. I think events showed he did need a bit of help from outside – sometimes to give him his head, and sometimes to rein him in.

“Although there are lots of similarities between them there are also lots of differences. Ian, at his best, was a better bowler than Stokes – but I’m sure Stokes is a better batsman. He is more complete. He’s really got hold of himself, deciding to develop his defensive play.

“He’s not purely a hitter anymore, although he can still do it, as he did in the second innings of the second Test against West Indies at Emirates Old Trafford. I thought Ian might have become a No.5 for England and bowled a bit – which is the role Stokes now has. Ian never quite made that transition.”

Brearley has a new book out, called Spirit of Cricket: Reflections of Play and Life. He hopes like The Art of Captaincy, it can be used by people in all walks of life, not just cricket.

“The Art of Captaincy is my favourite of the ones that came before this,” Brearley said. “To hear that it was used by business leaders, head teachers, psychotherapists, even Sam Mendes when he directed American Beauty – that was satisfying.

“I hope Spirit of Cricket can apply to other situations too – like the law, and religion. I love writing and will carry on for as long as I can.”

^{Mike Brearley captained England in 31 of his 39 Tests}

The great allrounders as England Test captain

Tony Greig – 14 Tests, won 3, lost 5, drawn 6

High: Winning in India in 1976/77

Low: Losing to West Indies in 1976 after ‘grovel’ comment

Ian Botham – 12 Tests, won 0, lost 4, drawn 8

High: Managing six draws in nine Tests v West Indies – good compared with what was to follow

Low – Losing the role after his pair at Lord’s in 1981

Andrew Flintoff – 11 Tests, won 2, lost 7, drew 2

High: Drawing in India 1-1 in 2005/06, winning the ‘Ring of Fire’ Test at Mumbai

Low: Whitewash in Australia in 2006/07

Ben Stokes – 1 Test, won 0, lost 1, drawn 0

Spirit of Cricket: Reflections of Play and Life by Mike Brearley is published in hardback by Constable, priced £20; you can also read Mike’s column exclusively in The Cricketer

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