Overview

• Ben Stokes was ruled out of the fifth Test at the Oval by a shoulder injury, handing vice-captain Ollie Pope his fifth stint as stand-in captain.
• Former England skipper Michael Vaughan praised Harry Brook as a “born leader” and argued he should assume captaincy when Stokes is unavailable.
• Brook has led England to victory in all three of his T20Is and five of eight ODIs as white-ball captain, showcasing his leadership under pressure.
• Pope has won three of his four Tests in Stokes’ absence but lacks first-class captaincy experience outside Test cricket.
• The debate over succession intensified as England plot their leadership ahead of Stokes’ recovery and the upcoming Ashes series.