Mike Atherton, Nasser Hussain, Michael Vaughan pick England's new Test captain after Joe Root steps down

In a significant development outside the Indian Premier League periphery, Joe Root decided to step down as England's Test captain on Friday. Root, England's most successful Test captain with 27 victories, ended a five-year long tenure leaving behind the 'who will be England's next skipper?' question. Decorated former England captains Mike Atherton, Nasser Hussain, and Michael Vaughan shared their thoughts on the matter. 

Vaughan picked Ben Stokes and said the all-rounder “has got a smart brain” and will have the “respect” of his players.

"I don't see anyone else who could take the position and be guaranteed of their place in the side," Vaughan told the BBC.

"In Ben Stokes, you have clearly got someone who has got a smart cricket brain, he's going to give it everything, he is certainly going to have the respect of the players around him."

Former skipper Michael Atherton also backed Stokes, saying he was the "obvious" replacement for Root.

Stokes took an indefinite break from cricket in July to focus on his mental health while also recovering from a second operation on a broken finger, but returned to the England squad for the Ashes series.

The 30-year-old has not been training after suffering pain in his left knee in March but he is on course to return for the County Championship next month for Durham.

Hussain said Stokes was "naturally gifted" but England would have to be sure he can cope with the demands of the role.

"You have to be in a good place mentally and physically to do the job — and Ben has had his problems away from the field," Hussain wrote in his Daily Mail column.

"Whoever the new director of cricket is, the first thing they must do is ... sit down with Stokes, look him in the eye and find out where he is," Hussain said.

He also added that if not Stokes, then "on a short-term basis this summer, the principle of picking your best side leads me to Broad".

Broad is England's second-highest wicket-taker in tests, but the 35-year-old was omitted from the squad for their tour of the West Indies last month.

"Stuart has a brilliant cricket brain, lots of experience and is a fighter who wants to win every game he plays in," Hussain said.

"He has a point to prove after the last couple of months and we know how dangerous he can be in those circumstances."

(With Reuters inputs)