Credited from: REUTERS
Harry Brook has been appointed as England's new white-ball captain following the resignation of Jos Buttler after a dismal showing in the ICC Champions Trophy. The England and Wales Cricket Board announced Brook's captaincy role on April 7, 2025, marking a significant moment in his career. The 26-year-old Yorkshireman, who has previously served as vice-captain, will lead both the one-day and T20 teams, a decision made to maintain continuity after Buttler's departure.
"It's a real honour to be named England's white-ball captain," Brook stated. "I'm excited to get going and give it everything I've got," as he looks forward to his debut as the permanent captain against the West Indies in a series of six matches later in May, consisting of three ODIs and three T20 internationals.
Despite chatter around Ben Stokes, the current Test captain, being a potential choice for the role, appointing Brook allows Stokes to focus on his fitness and preparation for the upcoming Ashes series. Rob Key, the managing director for England men's cricket, expressed confidence in Brook’s leadership, describing him as "an outstanding cricketer" with "an excellent cricketing brain" and the vision needed to drive the team forward.
Brook is stepping into this role amidst the backdrop of England's troubled performance at the Champions Trophy, where they suffered defeats in all three matches, including a significant loss to Afghanistan. Buttler had led the team to a record of 22 losses in 34 ODIs since taking over from the retired Eoin Morgan in June 2022.
"I dreamed of representing Yorkshire, playing for England, and maybe one day leading the team," Brook remarked, expressing his ambition as he embarks on this new journey. Alongside his captaincy, Brook has shown promising performance, having accumulated 816 runs in 26 ODIs and being part of the T20 World Cup-winning squad in Australia in 2022.
Earlier this year, Brook withdrew from the Indian Premier League (IPL), prioritizing his commitment to the England team. As he prepares for his inaugural series as skipper, there is anticipation surrounding his leadership ability and the future successes of England's limited-overs teams.
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