Stokes was left out of England’s squad for the second Test against New Zealand following an incident involving a breach of team curfew after the first Test at Lord’s, where he and teammate Gus Atkinson were reportedly involved in a nightclub-related altercation. The episode led to disciplinary action and his absence from the Oval Test.
However, Vaughan believes Stokes remains indispensable to England’s Test setup as a leader on the field.
“This team needs him as a leader, as a captain. His tactical awareness of the game has been right up there with the best captains I have seen,” Vaughan said on BBC Test Match Special. “I wouldn’t want to be the person who tells English fans that Ben Stokes is no longer our captain.”
Vaughan also suggested that removing Stokes from leadership would be a difficult decision for the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), given his impact since taking charge in 2022 under head coach Brendon McCullum.
While acknowledging the disciplinary concerns, Vaughan expressed doubt over Stokes continuing purely as a senior player without leadership responsibilities.
“If the ECB decide Ben can’t come back in a leadership role, the only captain he could play under is Joe Root,” he said. “I don’t see him as someone who would just walk into the dressing room as a player. He is a leader.”
Vaughan added that Stokes’ natural leadership instincts make it difficult to separate him from a captaincy role, although he suggested Joe Root would be the only figure under whom Stokes could comfortably serve if required.
Root previously led England in 65 Test matches before Stokes took over in 2022, ushering in a new era under McCullum’s coaching tenure.
