As England’s Test captain Joe Root is likely to miss the first Test match against West Indies from 8 July, he has backed Ben Stokes to take the captaincy role for the Test. But former England veteran Kevin Pietersen has not supported to handover this responsible job to Stokes. He has also named the right player who should be given the role.
Kevin Pietersen, who had also led the England team for a short period in 2008, expressed that the captaincy would add pressure on Ben Stokes. It would affect the allrounder’s performance, and he would have an added burden. According to Pietersen, the wicketkeeper-batsman Joss Buttler is the right person to lead the team.
“Do I want to see Ben Stokes change from who he is and the current player he is? Probably not, Jos Buttler would be my guy,” Pietersen told talkSPORT.
“The entertainers and the guys that have to carry the mantle in the team sometimes aren’t the best captains and sometimes struggle with the extra added pressure,” he added.
Pietersen further added that as a player, you are not as accountable as the captain. He said that the captains have to behave in a way to lead the team.
“As a player, you are looked at completely differently until that phone call comes and you are announced as the Test captain. Responsibilities change, communication changes, the way in which you carry yourself in the dressing room changes.”
Meanwhile, Root’s participation in the first Test is under doubt because he is expecting his second child’s birth around the same time. The West Indies will tour England to play three-match Test series starting from July. But the Caribbean’s will land the UK on Tuesday next week to follow 14-days quarantine and other health guidelines.