Stuart Broad backs Ollie Pope to be Ben Stokes’ successor as England Test captain

Stuart Broad today backed Ollie Pope to become England’s next Test captain after downplaying his own chances of taking over should something happen to Ben Stokes.

Broad was one of the few alternative candidates for the Stokes leadership when Joe Root resigned with England in the background last year after defeat in the Caribbean left them with a dismal run of just one win in 17 Tests.

And former England Twenty20 captain Broad was put on standby to step in when Stokes fell ill ahead of last year’s third Test against New Zealand at Headingley.

But now he feels his time, at 36, is gone and has identified Pope as England’s next leader after watching him captain England in their two-day warm-up match here against a New Zealand XI ahead of the First test next week at Mount Maunganui.

“I was going to captain at Leeds last year, but then Ben was fine,” Broad said after returning to the England side after missing out on paternity leave in the win over Pakistan. “I think Popey is a great leader in the group actually.

It has grown a lot in the last year in the way it operates and the responsibility it has been given. She speaks very well in the group and has a great cricket mind. There is no doubt that you can see him as a future England captain.

Pope told Sportsmail in an exclusive interview that it would be ‘a great honour’ to captain England, adding: ‘Cheers Broady!

“There’s no label, there’s no vice-captain, but if Stokesey wants to share ideas with me during a game, I’m more than happy to use my knowledge.” But he also has incredible experience in the locker room that he will use.”