Captain’s job is split three ways as England decide to share the workload

Three lions on the shirt and now three captains on the field – English cricket has just taken a leap into the unknown.

Even team director Andy Flower admitted yesterday that there are no guarantees of success following the ground-breaking decision to have Andrew Strauss in charge at Test level, Alastair Cook there for one-day games and Stuart Broad leading out the Twenty20 side.

It all comes about from Strauss’s decision not only to stand down as one-day captain, but also to retire from limited overs cricket.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

His Test opening partner Cook did not even make the recent World Cup squad, but with no Strauss at the top of the order the 26-year-old star of the Ashes victory is seen as the right man to take over both roles.

And, of course, it will give him more leadership experience before, as is widely thought likely, he eventually succeeds Strauss – eight years his senior.

Dropping Paul Collingwood a year after he lifted the World Twenty20 Cup was not forced on the selectors, though, and Flower said the 34-year-old was “very disappointed, as you would expect him to be”.

But he described it as entering a new era and Broad, not 25 until next month, was the one chosen after an interview process that included, among other unnamed players, former captain Kevin Pietersen.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It’s never been tried before, so we are actually quite excited about the opportunity,” Flower said.

“I don’t think any side has had three separate captains before. We do not know 100 per cent whether it will work or whether it will be the most effective or efficient system, but we are going to give it a try.

“I think with the quality of people that we’ve got around us we form a good leadership team.”

Strauss said: “After a number of discussions with both (managing director) Hugh Morris and Andy Flower, as well as a few weeks of reflection following the World Cup, I’ve decided that now is the right time to relinquish my role as captain of the one-day side and retire from this form of the game.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It was a very difficult decision. I certainly had the idea floating around in my mind at the end of the World Cup, but I realised it was important to take a few weeks to let things settle down.

“Ultimately the decision was made because the end of the World Cup is a watershed for all one-day teams and as a team to refresh and regenerate and to move forward.

“I didn’t think in my own mind that for me to start that process knowing full well I wouldn’t be able to see it through to the next World Cup was in the best interests of the team.

“I think this gives Alastair a blank canvas from which to work alongside Andy Flower to take the team forward. And obviously it allows me to concentrate on the Test side, but also work with these two in overseeing the overall strategy.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He added: “I’ve enjoyed my time as one-day captain immensely and I’m extremely proud of the strides we have made over the past two years.

“There is, however, still a long way to go for us in this form of the game and this is the perfect opportunity for a new captain to take up the challenge.

“I still have a huge amount of desire and motivation to continue leading the Test team and help us achieve our goal of becoming the number one ranked team in the world.”

Morris confirmed that Strauss will play a part in mentoring both Cook and Broad in what is bound to be viewed as their auditioning for the main Test job.

Broad starts his England captaincy against Sri Lanka in Bristol on June 25. Cook then takes over at The Oval three days later.

Related topics: