Stuart Broad coy over England captaincy as Joe Root waits to learn his fate

Joe Root is in contention to be the next England captain.

England director of cricket Andrew Strauss is understood to have spoken with Broad, clear favourite Joe Root and Ben Stokes about the role at informal meetings held on Thursday. 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.

England's Stuart Broad celebrates the wicket of Sri Lanka's Dimuth Karunaratne during day two of the 1st Investec Test at Headingley, Leeds. (Picture: Mike Egerton/PA Wire)

“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.”

Yorkshireman Root remains the favourite to replace Cook, who announced his resignation on Monday after four-and-a-half years in charge.

Root, 26, from Sheffield, has captained Yorkshire before while his impressive form for England, and the maturity he has shown, have marked him out as a natural successor. 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 one-day 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.