Pietersen backs Buttler over Stokes for captain’s role; WI’s Thomas keen to make England Test debut

Kevin Pietersen does not think Ben Stokes should captain England if Joe Root is forced to miss a game against the West Indies because it would heap too much pressure on the all-rounder.

Root’s wife is due to give birth in July, meaning he risks missing one of the three behind-closed-doors Tests against the Caribbean side next month.

Root has backed vice-captain Stokes to do a good job in his absence, but former England skipper Pietersen is wary about the all-rounder assuming even more responsibility. Pietersen, who said he “hated” the responsibility of being captain of England for a brief spell, would prefer wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler to take over.

“Do I want to see Ben Stokes change from who he is and the current player he is? Probably not. Jos Buttler would be my guy,” he told talkSPORT.

“The entertainers and the guys that have to carry the mantle in the team sometimes aren’t the best captains and sometimes struggle with the extra added pressure.”

Pietersen said the captaincy changed how players were viewed in the dressing room.

“I struggled with it, I absolutely hated it and I was rubbish,” he said. “You have to change and I couldn’t command the respect of the dressing room.”

England begin their summer of cricket, which has been badly affected by the coronavirus pandemic, on July 8 with the first Test against the West Indies. Further international matches against Pakistan, Australia and Ireland are all pencilled in, but they are all likely to be played in empty stadiums.

“I would rather be in the broadcaster chair than in the players’ chair because entertainers like atmosphere and you are going to have to build your own atmosphere and dig as deep as you can to try your best and perform in front of a whisper,” Pietersen said.

“It is going to be hard, especially for cricket. Six hours, when you’re in the field and guys are batting and you’re 100 overs into an innings, England are going to have to dig deep because it is going to feel like a warm-up game, with no one watching.”

West Indies quick Oshane Thomas has said he hopes to make his Test debut in England next month and establish himself in all three cricket formats.

Thomas has been named among 11 reserves to accompany the 14-member squad for their three-test series in England, which is scheduled to take place in bio-secure venues in Southampton and Manchester, subject to government approval.

“I definitely want to play Test cricket; I want to do well in all three formats,” the 23-year-old right-arm fast bowler told the Jamaican Observer.

“Test cricket is really the ultimate that everyone wants to play to be great. You don’t want to just be an average cricketer; you want to be among the greats. I was called up for the England Test tour in the Caribbean (last year) and I didn’t get to make my debut, but hopefully this time around.”

Thomas, who has played 20 one-dayers and 12 Twenty20 Internationals, says he has the backing of coach Phil Simmons.

“He says I can’t be bowling that fast — probably bowling the fastest in the Caribbean — and not play in his test team,” added Thomas.

With international cricket set to come out of the coronavirus shutdown, Thomas is training at Sabina Park in Jamaica ahead of the tour.

“Last week is my first week back bowling on a pitch. I had been doing some little bowling here and there,” he said.

“I’m very happy to be back bowling and I’m looking forward to playing Test cricket.”

Agencies