Butcher Backs Surrey Star as England’s Next T20I Captain

Former batsman Mark Butcher claims that Sam Curran will soon be England’s T20I captain. This is in line with projections that, following Ben Stokes’ retirement, Harry Brook may be chosen as Test captain.

In an ideal world, England would prefer not to have a captain in each of the three categories of games. Therefore, if Brook is named Test captain, Butcher wants Curran to captain the 20-over squad.

The former player-turned-expert also thinks the Surrey star will take Stokes’ place in the Test team as an all-rounder before the Three Lions’ Test series against Pakistan next month.

Sam Curran would be a fantastic T20I captain, in my opinion. Surprisingly, Sam Curran’s reputation in Test match cricket has somewhat improved, hasn’t it? Mark Butcher stated on the Wisden Cricket Weekly Podcast, “Given what England are likely to need to fill the gap that Stokes has left as an all-rounder.”

Curran has led teams in the shortest format in the game before. Most notably, after leading Surrey in the T20 Blast, he guided the Desert Vipers to the ILT20 title in late 2025.

Mark Butcher also thinks that Brook is England’s lone option for captaining the Test squad.

“I believe that he [Brook] is the only and best choice [to be England’s Test captain]. Someone who is in the ideal stage of his life and profession, in terms of age, and who is able to devote all of his time to it since that’s what it takes and why it’s so damn hard, in my opinion.

Butcher continued, “You have to score your runs and be everything to everyone in that job.”

Stokes declared his retirement from international cricket after England’s 2-1 series defeat against New Zealand. Brook is in charge of the T20I team, which will play India in an ODI series after a five-match series.