Jos Buttler recognized the untenable nature of his position as England’s white-ball captain following a defeat to Afghanistan, leading to his resignation after a subsequent loss to South Africa. With no clear successor, Harry Brook emerges as a potential candidate, given his recent vice-captaincy and leadership experience. However, Brook’s heavy schedule raises concerns about balancing his roles across formats, risking his performance in white-ball cricket. England’s cricket leaders, McCullum and Key, face critical decisions ahead, especially considering the upcoming T20 World Cup and Ashes series, which are crucial for their legacies.
Unlike other contenders, Harry Brook emerges as the leading candidate, but he has only recently assumed the vice-captaincy and, unlike Morgan or Buttler, is a regular across all formats. It would be unprecedented in modern times for a player to participate in all three formats while captaining in two, especially given the demands of the IPL and the Hundred.
Brook showcased his leadership abilities while standing in during England’s ODIs against Australia last September, coupled with experience leading the England Under-19s, Yorkshire, and Northern Superchargers. At 26, with no secondary skills to manage on the field and a documented injury history, this could represent a significant opportunity for him. If anyone is equipped to handle the demands, it’s Brook.
However, this decision is not without its complications. While Brook boasts an impressive Test average nearing 60, he has yet to establish himself in international white-ball cricket: throughout four ICC events, his sole match-winning innings occurred against Namibia. This year has seen him struggle, with just 188 runs from 11 innings – and only one half-century – since England’s arrival in India at the start of the year.
Crucially, Brook’s schedule is heavily packed. England’s upcoming ODI series kicks off just four days after the IPL final; if Brook’s Delhi Capitals exit the tournament early, he may end up playing a Test against Zimbabwe instead. Although McCullum maintains that England’s fixture list is becoming less taxing, the team still faces 11 Tests, 27 white-ball fixtures, and a T20 World Cup in the next year.
This creates two interlinked risks. First, Brook may not possess the singular focus on white-ball cricket that Morgan and Buttler had, which could undermine England’s ODI and T20I efforts. Additionally, there is the chance that Brook could spread himself too thin, negatively impacting his batting and, in turn, affecting the performance of England’s Test team.
These issues became evident last summer, as Brook was the only player to participate throughout the T20 World Cup and England’s home Tests, concluding that period struggling with his batting rhythm following mixed messaging. It resulted in his least productive full Test series to date, averaging 30 against Sri Lanka, where their seamers succeeded in bowling him out at The Oval.
McCullum’s role as the all-format coach was based on the assumption that England’s fixture list would become more manageable after a period of post-Covid backlog, ensuring consistent communication for multi-format players. However, England likely wouldn’t want Brook participating in T20Is in New Zealand as preparations ramp up for next winter’s Ashes: if appointed, he will need a deputy.
On Saturday, McCullum left all possibilities open. He was receptive to the idea of appointing distinct captains for the 50-over and T20 formats – “If it’s the same person, then great; if it’s two different people, that’s fine too” – or even selecting a leader from outside the existing squad. “I’ll get home in the next few days and begin discussions with Rob Key and the ECB regarding the right person for us to place in that position.”
Perhaps the most crucial dialogue will be with Brook himself. England plays more Tests than any other nation and has a nearly equal amount of limited-overs cricket: over the last decade, at least one format has had to yield for each of their permanent captains. Before McCullum and Key settle on Brook, they must ensure he feels prepared to embark on this unprecedented challenge.
Key is likely aware that he has overlooked crucial aspects of England’s white-ball teams. He supported Buttler’s continuation following last year’s T20 World Cup and extended McCullum’s contract to encompass all formats; now, Buttler has resigned and McCullum has guided the team to 10 losses in 11 matches. Should another appointment not pan out well, it will be Key himself who faces the toughest scrutiny.
He also bears a significant share of responsibility for the predictable structure of England’s bowling attack, which surrendered 57.46 runs per wicket and conceded 6.8 runs per over at the Champions Trophy. Alongside McCullum’s support, Key has advocated for a lineup of all-format, high-pace seam bowlers, but the strategy backfired: Brydon Carse and Mark Wood both leaked runs and then succumbed to injuries.
Two years ago, both McCullum and Key were at a peak, buoyed by England’s bold cricket and early successes in the Bazball era, and for Key, the 2022 T20 World Cup victory. Since then, their standing has diminished, with significant accountability for England’s mid-table finish in the World Test Championship and their dismal white-ball results this year.
This leaves both facing a major decision regarding Brook. As England’s top young batsman, Brook’s performance will heavily influence their success in both next winter’s Ashes and the subsequent T20 World Cup – two series on which Key and McCullum understand their legacies depend.
Matt Roller is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @mroller98