Veteran paceman Stuart Broad said he has
not given thought to England Test captaincy after Joe Root stepped down last
week holding the position for five years. Broad said he is currently focusing on
gaining his place back in the team performing for Nottinghamshire in the County
Championship.

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It is still uncertain who will
become England’s next Test captain. When the likes of Mike Atherton and Michael
Vaughan suggested that vice-captain Ben Stokes is the favourite for the role,
former captain Nasser Hussain said that the England and Wales Cricket Board
(ECB) also must consider Broad for the role if Stokes is not ready for the task
now. Last year, Stokes took a mental health break.

“Naturally, I am aware that my name has
been touted as a potential successor to Joe as England captain and I guess that
is because I am an experienced centrally contracted player who has been around
the international game a long time,” Broad said.

Also Read: Why did Joe Root quit England Test captaincy? Read his full statement

“However, it is not something I have
given any thought to because firstly I am not currently in possession of a
shirt within the England Test team and my focus is very much on changing that
by taking wickets for Nottinghamshire over the next few weeks.      

“In fact, I would argue we are in a
fairly unique position as far as selection for the Test team goes right now in
that there are only two players whose names you could write in pen on the
scorecard.

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“One of them is Joe Root, the other is
Ben Stokes – and one of them isn’t going to be captain for the first Test of
the summer against New Zealand at Lord’s on June 2 because he has just given
the job away,” added Broad, who has taken 537 wickets in 152 Tests.

Root was England’s most
successful captain, winning 27 matches. Bur he also lost 26 Tests. In the last
17 Tests, he could win only one Test which oversaw England’s five straight
series defeats, including the miserable Ashes tour and 1-0 drubbing at the
hands of West Indies.

Also Read: 5 players who could replace Joe Root as England Test captain

Asked about Root’s decision to quit
captaincy, Broad said, “That’s quite a rare feat to achieve in the world of
sport because success and popularity do not go hand in hand and I can say with
confidence that not everyone I’ve played with would be complimentary about me.

“Beyond the dressing room, Joe (Root)
has been an amazing ambassador for the game of cricket. The best, I would
suggest, that we’ve had.”