Harry Brook appointed England’s new white-ball captain

Harry Brook has been appointed as the new captain of England’s white-ball teams, taking over from Jos Buttler ahead of their summer series against the West Indies. The decision comes after England's early exit from the ICC Champions Trophy earlier this year.

At 26 years old, Brook, the Yorkshire batter, will now lead England in both One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is). This appointment puts an end to speculation that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) might split the role between formats. Brook, who has played 44 T20 internationals and 26 ODIs, previously served as vice-captain under Buttler and briefly captained the ODI side during a five-match series against Australia in September.

Rob Key, England's managing director, confirmed the decision, stating that Brook had always been part of England's leadership plans. 

"Harry is not only an outstanding cricketer, but also has an excellent cricketing brain and a clear vision for both teams," said Key. 

"This opportunity has come slightly earlier than expected, but he is ready to lead us towards winning more series, World Cups, and global tournaments," he added. 

Brook, a key figure in England’s multi-format squads, will have a busy schedule ahead. His first assignment as full-time captain will be a home limited-overs series against the West Indies, which includes three ODIs and three T20Is from May 29 to June 10. This series follows a single Test against Zimbabwe and comes before England's home Test series against India later in the summer.

In the latter part of the year, England’s white-ball calendar continues with series against South Africa and Ireland in September, followed by a tour to New Zealand in November. Brook's first major ICC tournament as captain will be the 2026 T20 World Cup, scheduled to take place in India and Sri Lanka.

Brook was initially set to play in the 2025 Indian Premier League but withdrew to manage his workload after a disappointing individual performance in the Champions Trophy. The ECB's decision to appoint Brook allows Test captain Ben Stokes to focus solely on red-ball cricket.

Brook expressed his excitement about the role, calling it a lifelong dream come true. 

"Ever since I was a kid playing at Burley in Wharfedale, I dreamed of playing for Yorkshire and England – and maybe one day leading the team," he said. 

"To now be given that chance is a real honour. I’m looking forward to getting started and working towards more success with this talented group," he added. 

England has faced challenges in white-ball cricket following their 2022 T20 World Cup victory. Disappointing performances at the 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2024 T20 World Cup led to Matthew Mott’s dismissal as head coach and mounting pressure on Buttler, who eventually stepped down following England's underwhelming performance in the Champions Trophy.