Latest news with #CowdreyLecture
The Independent
04-04-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Michael Vaughan claims England would be ‘selfish' to give Ben Stokes white-ball captaincy
Michael Vaughan believes it would be 'selfish' to hand Ben Stokes England's ODI captaincy, with reports suggesting he and Harry Brook could be offered a white-ball job split. Brook recently served as deputy to Jos Buttler before the latter stood down and looks increasingly likely to take the reins of the T20 side. The Yorkshireman is also a candidate for the 50-over job but it is almost impossible to play a leading role in all three England teams given the demands of the schedule. Enter Stokes, who has proved a natural skipper in the Test arena and was publicly mooted as a cross-format option by Rob Key, the director of men's cricket. While there is an obvious temptation to extend his partnership with Brendon McCullum in the limited-overs arena, where England have struggled badly since their heyday under Eoin Morgan, he is currently recovering from his second hamstring tear in the space of six months. He retired from ODI cricket in 2022 to manage his workload and prioritise the Test team, later agreeing to return for the 2023 World Cup. Vaughan has no doubt the 33-year-old would answer the call again but thinks it would be an irresponsible move. Speaking at the MCC's Cowdrey Lecture at Lord's, he said: 'In a way, I think it's quite selfish to even consider him. He will say yes because he is Ben Stokes. He will do whatever England ask him to do. Just don't ask him and let him be. 'He gives absolutely everything, not just when he's playing for England but when he's training. He is all or nothing. It's an absolute nonsense to think that Ben Stokes is going to play white-ball cricket.' England's first game of the summer is a one-off Test against Zimbabwe from 22-25 May, with their white-ball campaign beginning four days later against the West Indies.
The Independent
04-04-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
ECB would be selfish to offer Ben Stokes England ODI captaincy
Michael Vaughan believes it would be 'selfish' to hand Ben Stokes England's ODI captaincy, with reports suggesting he and Harry Brook could be offered a white-ball job split. Brook recently served as deputy to Jos Buttler before the latter stood down and looks increasingly likely to take the reins of the T20 side. The Yorkshireman is also a candidate for the 50-over job but it is almost impossible to play a leading role in all three England teams given the demands of the schedule. Enter Stokes, who has proved a natural skipper in the Test arena and was publicly mooted as a cross-format option by Rob Key, the director of men's cricket. While there is an obvious temptation to extend his partnership with Brendon McCullum in the limited-overs arena, where England have struggled badly since their heyday under Eoin Morgan, he is currently recovering from his second hamstring tear in the space of six months. He retired from ODI cricket in 2022 to manage his workload and prioritise the Test team, later agreeing to return for the 2023 World Cup. Vaughan has no doubt the 33-year-old would answer the call again but thinks it would be an irresponsible move. Speaking at the MCC's Cowdrey Lecture at Lord's, he said: 'In a way, I think it's quite selfish to even consider him. He will say yes because he is Ben Stokes. He will do whatever England ask him to do. Just don't ask him and let him be. 'He gives absolutely everything, not just when he's playing for England but when he's training. He is all or nothing. It's an absolute nonsense to think that Ben Stokes is going to play white-ball cricket.' England's first game of the summer is a one-off Test against Zimbabwe from May 22-25, with their white-ball campaign beginning four days later against the West Indies.
BBC News
03-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Nonsense to make Stokes white-ball captain'
Michael Vaughan believes it would be "nonsense" and "selfish" for England to make Ben Stokes a white-ball skipper Stokes is under consideration for at least one of the limited-overs roles after Jos Buttler stepped down in Telegraph has reported that Harry Brook is set to become T20 captain, leaving a choice between Brook and Stokes for the 50-over job. BBC Sport understands no final decisions have been has a chequered injury history - he is currently recovering from hamstring surgery - and has not played white-ball cricket for England since return to the limited-overs format would be an increase in workload in a defining year for the 33-year-old's Test captaincy, with a home series against India followed by the Ashes in himself a former England captain, said: "It's absolute nonsense to think that Ben Stokes is going to play white-ball cricket."He gives absolutely everything, not just when he's playing for England but when he's training. He is all or nothing."In a way, I think it's quite selfish to even consider him, because he will say yes, because he is Ben Stokes. He will do whatever England ask him to do. Just don't ask him, just let him be."Stokes has energised England's Test team since taking charge in 2022. In the aftermath of Buttler's resignation, England director of cricket Rob Key said it would be "stupid" not to consider Stokes for a white-ball Stokes take on one or both white-ball roles, it would also further align him with head coach Brendon McCullum, who added the limited-overs sides to his Test responsibilities at the beginning of this is the best leader England have and his white-ball pedigree includes match-winning performances in the finals of the 2019 50-over World Cup and 2022 T20 World Cup. But the coming months will shape his legacy as Test captain, and England's hopes of regaining the Ashes in Australia would be almost destroyed if they were to lose Stokes. Any further burden on his body would be a huge gamble."Let him get the Ashes urn in his hands," said Vaughan, who was speaking as part of Test Match Special's delivery of the Cowdrey Lecture at Lord's."It's not just about this India series or the Ashes series, I want to see him leading the home Ashes in 2027, I want him to get England to a World Test Championship final."Why put the burden on him to play white-ball cricket? It's not about putting pressure on him because he deals with pressure better than anybody, but just let him look after his body and get him playing Test cricket for as long as possible."Though Key has said England will consider all options, it is thought that Stokes and current white-ball vice-captain Brook remain the only two batter Brook captained England in five one-day internationals against Australia last year, giving further responsibility to the 26-year-old would also come with is still establishing himself in England's white-ball sides and is also a key member of the Test team, so his workload would be a he would have to demonstrate the maturity to be England captain. Occasionally prone to a clumsy comment in the media, Brook last year was criticised for saying "who cares?" when asked about some of England's dismissals in an ODI defeat by England captain is often required to discuss complex situations, just as Buttler did when addressing the controversy surrounding the fixture against Afghanistan at the Champions Trophy. England could face Afghanistan again at the T20 World Cup early next Vaughan said if England consider Brook to be ready to be T20 captain, then he is also ready for the 50-over job."Harry Brook will be the T20 captain, I think that's being announced soon and that's what we're expecting," said Vaughan."So the next T20 World Cup is in a year - if you're saying that Harry Brook is good enough to be the captain in that format with that tournament coming so soon, surely he's good enough to be 50-over captain for that World Cup in 2027?"Vaughan, England captain for the epic 2005 Ashes victory, was joined by fellow TMS regulars Jonathan Agnew, Phil Tufnell and Ebony Rainford-Brent for the Cowdrey lecture, named after former England captain Colin Cowdrey, is delivered at Lord's each year.
BBC News
07-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
TMS presenters to deliver 2025 MCC Cowdrey Lecture
BBC Test Match Special presenters will deliver the 2025 Marylebone Cricket Club Cowdrey England captain Michael Vaughan and BBC chief cricket commentator Jonathan Agnew will open the show on 3 April in the Nursery Pavilion at Lord' will then be joined by fellow commentators, former England batter Ebony Rainford-Brent and former England spinner Phil annual event, named after the late England batter Colin Cowdrey and also referred to as the Spirit of Cricket lecture, features prominent figures in cricket discussing issues in the who led England in 51 Tests, is set to discuss the future of Test cricket."We were delighted to be asked to host the 2025 Cowdrey Lecture," said the TMS team."When you look through the list of previous speakers, so many legends of cricket have delivered the lecture, and we are honoured to be following in their footsteps for what we hope will be an entertaining evening of cricket conversation."Since first being held in 2001, the lecture was usually delivered by one person but this is the second year in a row it will be hosted by more than one keynote speaker - after the BBC's Tailenders podcast delivered the 2024 Match Special has provided ball-by-ball coverage of England matches since who played three Tests for England in the 1980s, was the BBC's cricket correspondent from 1991 before moving into his current chief commentator role last was the first black woman to play for England and in 2009 won the women's 50-over and T20 World Cups and retained the Ashes. She has since helped found the African-Caribbean Engagement Programme (ACE) to build grassroots cricket programmes for young people in black communities across the took 121 wickets in 42 Tests for England and has been part of the TMS team since 2003.
