Harry Brook not Ollie Pope should be Stokes’ successor in Tests: Michael Vaughan

LONDON: Harry Brook’s on-field presence gives off the vibe of a great leader and he should be the ready replacement for skipper Ben Stokes when the time comes, feels one of England’s finest Test captain Michael Vaughan.

Brook, a maverick batter, reignited England’s hopes in the ongoing Test with an attacking 111Vaughan, who won 26 out of his 51 Tests as captain, feels that Ollie Pope is a fantastic deputy but when Stokes decides to call time, Brook is the ideal guy to lead England.

“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?”

Yorkshire’s Brook was appointed England’s white-ball captain earlier this year. He won his first series against a below-par West Indies.

Vaughan gave his reasons for choosing Brook over Pope.”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.”

He then gave example of his time as leader of England cricket team.

“Marcus Trescothick was a magnificent vice-captain for me but you wouldn’t want to give him the captaincy.”

Pope, 27, is leading England in a Test for the fifth time. He previously stood in when Stokes had a hamstring injury last year.