What next for English cricket, the leadership and Stokes?

England men’s cricket is in an almighty mess.

A first defeat in a home Test series of three or more matches since 2012 and their talismanic captain Ben Stokes has walked away.

This series against New Zealand was supposed to be the post-Ashes reset, but now there are even more questions.

Is this the end of Bazball? Who will be the next captain? Who else could exit their job?

This is the state of play…

Who is under scrutiny?

Former captain Michael Vaughan is among those to call for further change to England’s leadership after Stokes’ retirement.

Like Stokes, coach Brendon McCullum and managing director Rob Key were only backed to continue by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) hierarchy in March, following a review into the 4-1 Ashes defeat.

That review, the decision-making and the future of ECB chief executive Richard Gould will also come into question.

England have lost seven of their past nine Tests and have not won a Test series since the end of 2024.

Any quick decisions are made less likely by the fact England are in action again on Wednesday, however.

With white-ball Harry Brook captain in charge and McCullum coach, England play India in the first of five T20s at Chester-le-Street before three one-day internationals.

After the conclusion of those matches, there is exactly a month before England’s next Test – the first of a three-match series against Pakistan at Headingley.

In the aftermath at Trent Bridge, McCullum maintained he wants to stay. He spoke like a coach expecting to remain in post.

Could Brook be captain?

Speaking in his final England press conference, Stokes threw his “100% support” behind vice-captain Brook being his successor.

“There was a reason why he was asked to be vice-captain,” said Stokes.

Brook has been deputy since the end of last summer but Joe Root was preferred when England needed a captain for the second Test against New Zealand, amid the investigation into the nightclub incident that ruled out Stokes.

It is six months since Brook’s own late-night episode, when he was punched by a nightclub bouncer in Wellington the night before leading England in a one-day international against New Zealand last November.

Key said it was not the “right time” for Brook to take on the job, even on an interim basis, earlier this month.

Stokes’ backing of Brook, though, was absolute. Given the opportunity, he did not give such a strong defence of McCullum or Key, saying he does not have to make those decisions.

“You are asked to be a vice-captain for a reason,” Stokes said. “It is a natural progression. I see no reason why Harry shouldn’t be asked to do that.

“In the last couple of weeks there were some decisions that were made [about Root’s appointment] but I wasn’t part of making them.”

Brook is set to speak to the media on Tuesday – the first time he will have spoken publicly since being overlooked for Root.

The quick turnaround also points to the difficulties Brook would face if named captain in all three formats.

Who else could do the job?

McCullum kept his cards closer to his chest, insisting there are “lots of options” as well as Brook. He said conversations about the appointment will begin in the coming days.

“There are a lot of good leaders within the side and lots of guys who will do a fabulous job when the time comes,” he said.

Few stand up against scrutiny.

The most obvious alternative is another call to Root, who led England from 2017 to 2022. But his tactical decisions were questioned at The Oval and there will still be doubts whether the team’s best batter wants or needs the added workload. Would it even be fair to ask him to captain again?

While Jacob Bethell, 22, is highly thought of and led England in T20s last year, he has played only nine Tests. He is also battling to establish himself as England’s number three.

Ben Duckett has captained once in the County Championship and six times in The Hundred.

The dropping of Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope also removed experienced players – they have 64 caps apiece – from England’s squad. Pope served as Stokes’ vice-captain prior to Brook and stood in on five occasions.

Bowler Ollie Robinson, who returned after a two-year exile for the first Test but has not been seen since, at least captains his county, Sussex.

What about Stokes?

Stokes said on Sunday he will continue “playing for Durham and whatever other opportunities there are”. First he will take a holiday, seemingly ruling him out of Durham’s five T20 Blast matches between 3 and 12 July.

Stokes committed to playing for Durham in the One-Day Cup, which includes home matches at Gosforth and Darlington, at the start of the season and has already sent a message to coach Ryan Campbell about the prospect.

Otherwise there are six County Championship matches left this season, with Durham currently top of Division Two.

There would surely be interest in Stokes in overseas franchise leagues but current rules suggest he would not be able to sign up for the lucrative Indian Premier League until the next mega auction before the 2028 season.

South Africa’s SA20 begins immediately after England’s three-Test tour concludes there in January.

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