Former England captain and 2019 World Cup winner Eoin Morgan has weighed in on England’s white-ball leadership transition following Jos Buttler’s resignation.
Morgan, speaking to a media outlet, emphasized the need for a long-term vision and suggested two possible successors—Ben Stokes as a short-term option and Harry Brook as a long-term leader.
Buttler stepped down as England’s limited-overs captain after a disappointing ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign, compounded by England’s unsuccessful title defenses in both the 50-over and T20 World Cups.
With England now searching for a new leader, Morgan underlined the importance of having a clear roadmap.
"I think it is imperative that you will always have a target in mind," Morgan said. "With the recent form the side has had in white-ball cricket, you cannot go out and all of a sudden try and win absolutely everything. You need to paint a picture moving forward as to what you are driving all of your energy towards."
Morgan suggested that Test captain Ben Stokes could be a viable short-term choice, despite not having played an ODI since the 2023 Men's Cricket World Cup. He proposed a flexible arrangement where Stokes could step in for major tournaments while primarily focusing on Test cricket.
"I think a bit of a left-field call would be to ask Ben Stokes to consider the role, not necessarily on a full-time basis," Morgan stated.
"You would have to create an environment where Ben would slip in and out seamlessly in preparation for big tournaments and then sit on the back burner and focus on Test match cricket until those big tournaments came up."
For a more permanent solution, Morgan endorsed 26-year-old Harry Brook, highlighting his impressive leadership during England’s home series against Australia last year.
"If you highlight something that is in three years, four years, somebody like Harry Brook would do a magnificent job," Morgan said.
The former captain praised Brook’s composure and ability to handle pressure, particularly after England suffered a setback against Australia.
"We know Harry Brook as this incredibly talented player that we are seeing grow and get better year on year, which is just a joy to watch. But the leadership role did not seem to weigh on him," he remarked.
Morgan further explained that Brook’s reaction to adversity was a key indicator of his leadership potential.