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Former England captain Michael Vaughan has backed white-ball skipper Harry Brook to lead the side in Tests in the future if Ben Stokes is unavailable due to injury. Vaughan feels that vice-captains don’t always fit in the role of captains. He named his former teammate and current assistant coach Marcus Trescothick as example to explain the current scenario as Ollie Pope is leading the side, owing to Stokes’ shoulder injury.
"Harry Brook, to me, looks a leader. He looks a born leader," Vaughan told the Test Match Special podcast. "If Ben Stokes is injured in the future can't Pope stay as vice-captain and Harry Brook gets the leadership role?"
Strangely, Vaughan does not want Pope to be removed from the vice-captain role but does not want him to take over as captain when Stokes is injured.
"I look at someone like Ollie Pope, who looks a fantastic vice-captain. He is a brilliant person to have next to the captain to come up with ideas. Sometimes vice-captains aren't brilliant captains.
"Marcus Trescothick was a magnificent vice-captain for me but you wouldn't want to give him the captaincy,” he added.
Vaughan not putting all blame on Pope for massive target
However, Vaughan feels that England are not chasing 374 in the ongoing fifth Test at Kennington Oval, London, because of Pope's captaincy. He blames the fielders for poor catching. Vaughan speculated that Pope's absence from the field for a couple of times was to heed tactical advice from an injured Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum.
"It is not Ollie Pope's fault England are in this position. It is the dropped catches," said the 50-year-old.
"There were a couple of times he nipped off the field. It might have been for a comfort break, but it looked like he was going off for tactical advice.
"I don't know well enough and am not in the dressing room. I just want the best captain who is the best leader leading the England side. I don't think a good vice-captain will necessarily be a good captain."
Pope and Brook’s captaincy record
Before the ongoing Test, Pope had led England in four Tests, emerging victorious in three whereas one ended in loss.
Meanwhile, Brook has led England in eight ODIs and three T20Is. He has a 100 per cent record as captain in T20Is. Meanwhile, in ODIs, Brook has won five out of eight games as skipper.
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