Former England skipper Michael Vaughan was not a big fan of Ollie Pope potentially becoming the next England captain, as he suggested Harry Brook as a better candidate to replace Ben Stokes in the long format.
Ollie Pope led the team in the decider of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, with Ben Stokes rested, and it resulted in England squandering their 2-1 series lead as India fought back to level it 2-2 in a historic triumph at the Oval. India won the 5th Test by the barest of margins—just 6 runs—which many are calling the “Heist of the Decade.”
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Vaughan Backs Harry Brook Over Ollie Pope as Future England Test Captain
Meanwhile, speaking ahead of Day 5, Michael Vaughan drew a comparison between Ollie Pope and Harry Brook, discussing who would be the better long-term leader for England. Interestingly, he backed Harry Brook over Pope, who is widely seen as the next Test captain for England.
“Harry Brook, to me, looks like a leader. He looks like a born leader. If Ben Stokes is injured in the future, can’t Pope stay as vice-captain and Harry Brook get the leadership role?” Vaughan said on the Test Match Special podcast.
Harry Brook, the second-highest run-scorer for England in the series, was named England’s Player of the Series for his contributions. In the 364-run chase, he scored a century that almost took England over the line, but India’s resistance held them back. Brook was recently appointed as England’s white-ball captain, replacing Jos Buttler, who stepped down after their Champions Trophy group-stage exit. However, Brook is yet to face his biggest test as skipper in the limited-overs format.
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Vaughan Draws Parallels from His Era, Questions Pope’s Leadership Credentials
Speaking further on the vice-captaincy debate, Vaughan reflected on his own playing days. He recalled how Marcus Trescothick complemented him as a deputy but wasn’t his choice for the top job, opting instead for Andrew Strauss to take over the captaincy.
“Marcus Trescothick was a magnificent vice-captain for me, but you wouldn’t want to give him the captaincy.”
Applying the same logic to the current setup, Vaughan feels Ollie Pope is a capable vice-captain but doesn’t see him as a natural leader like Harry Brook.
“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," he added.
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Meanwhile, England will tour Australia in November for the Ashes. With Ben Stokes' fitness still a concern, the ECB may need to seriously consider their leadership options—especially after the 2-2 series draw against India at home.
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