Michael Vaughan believes it would be “nonsense” and “selfish” for England to make Ben Stokes a white-ball captain.
Test skipper Stokes is under consideration for at least one of the limited-overs roles after Jos Buttler stepped down in February.
The Telegraph has reported that Harry Brook is set to become T20 captain, leaving a choice between Brook and Stokes for the 50-over job. BBC Sport understands no final decisions have been made.
Stokes has a chequered injury history – he is currently recovering from hamstring surgery – and has not played white-ball cricket for England since 2023. Any return to the limited-overs format would be an increase in workload in a defining year for the 33-year-old’s Test captaincy, with a home series against India followed by the Ashes in Australia.
Vaughan, himself a former England captain, said: “It’s absolute nonsense to think that Ben Stokes is going to play white-ball cricket.
“He gives absolutely everything, not just when he’s playing for England but when he’s training. He is all or nothing.
“In a way, I think it’s quite selfish to even consider him, because he will say yes, because he is Ben Stokes. He will do whatever England ask him to do. Just don’t ask him, just let him be.”
Stokes has energised England’s Test team since taking charge in 2022. In the aftermath of Buttler’s resignation, England director of cricket Rob Key said it would be “stupid” not to consider Stokes for a white-ball job.
Should Stokes take on one or both white-ball roles, it would also further align him with head coach Brendon McCullum, who added the limited-overs sides to his Test responsibilities at the beginning of this year.
Stokes is the best leader England have and his white-ball pedigree includes match-winning performances in the finals of the 2019 50-over World Cup and 2022 T20 World Cup.
But the coming months will shape his legacy as Test captain, and England’s hopes of regaining the Ashes in Australia would be almost destroyed if they were to lose Stokes. Any further burden on his body would be a huge gamble.
“Let him get the Ashes urn in his hands,” said Vaughan, who was speaking as part of Test Match Special’s delivery of the Cowdrey Lecture at Lord’s.
“It’s not just about this India series or the Ashes series, I want to see him leading the home Ashes in 2027, I want him to get England to a World Test Championship final.
