Cook could pressure Strauss
The ECB has taken the radical decision to go with three captains, across the three formats, with Alastair Cook taking over the reins of the ODI side from Andrew Strauss, who remains Test captain, and Stuart Broad as captain in the Twenty20 format
Akhila Ranganna
25-Feb-2013
The ECB has taken the radical decision to go with three captains, across the three formats, with Alastair Cook taking over the reins of the ODI side from Andrew Strauss, who remains Test captain, and Stuart Broad as captain in the Twenty20 format. Mike Selvey in the Guardian writes that if Cook and Broad do well in their roles, the Test captain's position could come under threat.
The danger to Strauss's ambition to lead the Test side into both Ashes series in 2013 is that the one-day side will flourish under Cook and so put the sort of pressure on his Test leadership that eventually caused Hussain to pass on those reins to Vaughan. It is a risk Strauss recognises, although the team would have to make massive progress for that to happen. Four series against subcontinental teams this winter and two at home this summer with the World Cup finalists will not make that any easier.
Derek Pringle in the Daily Telegraph writes that a system involving three points of reference for players involved in all three formats does not appear ideal but Andy Flower, the principle architect, believes his grand experiment is the way forward.
It certainly looks as if Flower will assume the autocratic role once filled by the single captain of old. If he does not, how will differences of opinion over who plays in each of the sides become settled? What if Cook wants James Taylor, the highly promising young batsman from Leicestershire, to play in the 50-over side but Broad does not want him in the T20 side? Flower will have to make that call, as he does already for Tests in collusion with Strauss, but you can see how it might quickly become messy.
In the same newspaper Jonathan Liew takes a tongue-in-cheek look at how Strauss, Broad and Cook were (probably) welcomed into their new roles.
Alastair Cook, England one-day International captain.
MEMO: From Andy Flower
Hearty congrats, Ali. Sure you'll do well. Thought of the day: now you're ODI captain, time to think about breaking into the ODI team?
England have gone where no side has ever previously voluntarily trodden, writes Stephen Brenkley in the Independent but neither Cook nor Broad seem equipped for the roles they have been selected for.
The interviewing panel may like to assume that in Cook they have chosen a like-for-like replacement for Strauss, a solid left-handed opener on whom more flamboyant characters can depend. But, for all Cook's impressive attributes, it would have been bolder to pick a more obviously accomplished one-day player, even a specialist unfettered by concerns in other parts of the game.
Broad will not have many games in which to lead before England have to defend their World T20 in Sri Lanka next year. But it is hard for a fast bowler to captain in any form of cricket – which is why so few do it at Test level – and in T20, where so much is happening so quickly, it may be harder still. As it is, both appointments look like an audition for the Test captaincy, which may easily now come up sooner rather than later.
England's new Twenty20 captain Stuart Broad writes in the Daily Mail that he is 'desperate to hit the ground running'.
I may not have much captaincy experience under my belt but I can honestly say I've always tried to think like a leader whenever I'm out in the middle: what fields I'd set, how to attack a new batsman, which bowlers to use - that kind of thing.
Back to the Guardian where David Hopps writes that Cook or Broad - whoever does the best job - will get to lead England in the 2015 World Cup.
Oliver Brett on the BBC website writes that while three captains seems at least one too many, facing a hectic schedule, and by design or otherwise, England might have inadvertently arrived at a new blueprint for dealing with the complex burden of international cricket.
Dave Tickner in the Sporting Life writes that while we don't know whether England's decision will work, if the split captaincy is ever going to succeed, this is the time and this is the place.
Akhila Ranganna is assistant editor (Audio) at ESPNcricinfo