Maybe Botham is right: “Two matches against one of the weaker nations would be the perfect time to blood a new skipper and a few young players.”
Former England great Ian Botham has called for Michael Vaughan to replace Nasser Hussain as Test captain with immediate effect.
Vaughan was named on Tuesday as Hussain’s successor at the helm of the one-day side, and he admitted he would like the Test job too.
But the Yorkshire opener will have to wait until the end of the summer at least before taking the job, as Hussain has been confirmed in the post for the next seven Test matches.
“Michael Vaughan was the logical choice to captain England’s one-day side,” Botham wrote in his Daily Mirror column.
“But now the selectors should go the whole hog and put him in charge of the Test team as well.”
The former all-rounder, who captained England in 12 Tests, said England’s results under Hussain had levelled off.
After four consecutive series victories in 2000-01, the side has won just one of their last seven Test series.
“I expect Vaughan to be a success because he has a level head, is always challenging himself to improve and the other players look up to him,” Botham added.
Botham’s call follows that of another former England captain, Mike Gatting, for Hussain to step down.
Writing in last Sunday’s Observer newspaper, the former batsman accused Hussain of selfishness in setting targets for the remainder of his Test career.
“Surely it would be better to give the captaincy of both teams to one man either now … or at the very least in September,” Gatting added.
Hussain will lead England in the two-Test series against Zimbabwe, which begins at Lord’s on 22 May, and then five Tests at home to South Africa.
Botham said he did not realistically expect “the blazers at Lord’s” to make a “bold decision” to replace Hussain before then.
“But an imaginative panel of selectors would put Vaughan in charge straight away for the series against Zimbabwe,” he went on.
“Two matches against one of the weaker nations would be the perfect time to blood a new skipper and a few young players.”
