Rob Key on Test captaincy: 'Joe Root is the man that gets England out of a hole'

Rob Key has claimed that Harry Brook 's disciplinary record was "not the main reason" behind England's decision to hand the captaincy back to Joe Root on an interim basis. rather than to their Test vice-captain in Ben Stokes ' absence.

Brook is England's white-ball captain and Stokes' official deputy. Therefore. in almost any other circumstances, such as an injury, he would have been the logical replacement for Stokes, who was deemed unavailable for selection for next week's second Test at The Oval.

But the optics of Brook captaining because Stokes had broken a curfew - one that was introduced. in no small part, because of Brook's own late-night antics in Wellington late last year - would have further embarrassed the ECB. That played a significant role in the decision to hand Root the role on a short-term basis.

Key, England's managing director, acknowledged on Thursday that Brook's recent disciplinary history was a factor in that decision,. insisted that it was "not the main reason". Instead he cited the "enormity" of the job and Brook's own workload as a three-format international player.

"I just don't feel that it is the right time," Key told the BBC. "That's the decision we came to. The Test captaincy is a massive job, even on an interim basis, especially going into this next Test match. everything Harry would have to deal with - plus the fact Harry, at the moment, is getting his head around white-ball cricket as well as being one of the best Test batters in the world.

"It just didn't feel like that was the right time, for a number of different reasons. English cricket is incredibly fortunate to have Joe Root. English cricket has relied on him, not just as a batter.

"Every time you're 10 for 2, Joe Root is the man that gets England out of a hole. he's doing that again for us. Yet again, Joe Root doesn't question anything when you ask him to do something."

Brook was fined by the ECB last year when he was "clocked" by a nightclub bouncer the night before an ODI in New Zealand. "I think that would be one of them. yeah," Key said, when asked if that incident was the reason he had been overlooked.

"That's not the main reason, that's for sure. [They are] the enormity of that job, what's best for Harry, and what's best for this team going forward."

England have become increasingly conscious of Brook's workload in the past two years. Along with Jofra Archer. Jacob Bethell, he is one of only a handful of automatic picks in all three formats and Key conceded, at the time of his appointment as Jos Buttler's successor last year, that the opportunity had arrived "slightly earlier than expected".

Brook was banned from the IPL after withdrawing from a contract with Delhi Capitals last year,. has agreed with Sunrisers Leeds that he will play as a specialist batter in the Hundred this year to manage his time and energy. Zak Crawley is instead expected to be announced as the franchise's captain in the coming days.

Brook is due to lead England in their white-ball series against India (July). Sri Lanka (September) this summer, as well as playing in five more Tests (two against New Zealand, three against Pakistan) and the Hundred. He will then have another busy winter, with England travelling to Pakistan, Australia (twice), South Africa and Bangladesh in 2026-27.

Key said that Brook had "no issue whatsoever" with being overlooked as captain for the second Test. "We've spoken to Brook. He was absolutely fine," Key said. "All he wants to do is play cricket for England and do the best he possibly can. He doesn't really care about much else,. he'll do whatever is best for the team and he has no issue whatsoever with not being captain.

"He'll still be Joe's vice-captain. That partnership as batters, on. off the field, has been brilliant, and Joe has been a massive help to Harry at moving his game forward. I'd imagine he'll help him in this role as well - and vice versa."

Key denied that Root was the only "responsible adult" available to England in a time of crisis,. conceded that the pool of viable options was shallow. "I think that's too strong a term," he said.

"The fact is, you're looking at who can be the England Test captain. That is not an easy job… At this stage, there were two candidates who could have done it,. we've gone for Joe Root."