Former England cricketer Stuart Broad has shared his thoughts on the ECB’s potential decision regarding the next ODI captain after Jos Buttler stepped down during the ICC Champions 2025. Broad strongly believes the board should avoid any hasty decisions particularly when it comes to appointing his former captain Ben Stokes as the new skipper.

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Broad feels that turning to Stokes would be a move out of desperation and could have serious consequences. The all-rounder already has a demanding role and taking on the captaincy in the 50-over format could lead to increased pressure and potential injury risks.

"Going for (Ben) Stokes would be a move of desperation. I would be lost for words if England appointed him. Firstly, there is the schedule. He's not going to the Indian Premier League to try to prioritise the Test match team and get his physicality right for the big events on the horizon," Broad explained.

Broad also expressed his concerns about Stokes' ability to handle the additional workload that comes with being an ODI captain particularly in terms of his bowling duties. Stokes has been managing a knee injury which makes the added responsibility even more challenging.

"How many overs has Stokes bowled successfully in the last three years while battling his knee injuries? Not many. And you're going to add another eight to 10 overs in a 50-over format onto his workload?" Broad questioned.

"The mathematics of that make no sense. As someone who played 121 one-day internationals I can honestly say I found the 50-over format more tiring than Test match cricket," he added.

While there’s a lot of speculation about who will take over the ODI captaincy Broad’s remarks serve as a reminder for the ECB to carefully consider the long-term impact on Stokes’ career especially with the all-rounder being a key figure in England’s Test setup.