Published: 17:00 BST, 11 August 2026 | Updated: 17:00 BST, 11 August 2026
The international retirement of Ben Stokes has left Stephen Fleming and Joe Root with an impossible hole to fill.
For 13 years, Stokes was the man England turned to when they needed heroics with the bat or a breakthrough with the ball. His legacy as one of English cricket's finest all-rounders is secured.
But who should replace him when the Fleming-Root era begins in earnest in South Africa this winter, and beyond? Should England look to a familiar face with Test experience, or put their faith in a rising star taking their first steps in red-ball cricket?
Here Daily Mail Sport examines the runners and riders.
Ben Stokes' international retirement has left the new England leadership duo of Stephen Fleming and Joe Root with a major problem to solve
England have already nominated Sam Curran as their No 1 Test all-rounder, which itself sums up the problem. He has been ignored by the selectors since 2021, while his 24 caps have produced underwhelming figures: batting and bowling averages of 24 and 35.
And however much his batting has improved in the last few years, it will still be asking a lot of him to balance the side: only four of his 38 Test innings have been above No 8, while his most recent half-century came nearly eight years ago.
Curran’s left-arm seamers do offer a variety that England’s attack has often lacked: their last significant left-arm quick, Ryan Sidebottom, played his final Test in January 2010. And there is no doubting his competitive instincts. But he feels like a white-ball player these days: since his last Test cap, he has played only 14 Championship matches for Surrey.
And yet Marcus North, England’s new national selector, recently felt able to say: ‘He’s someone that we really value highly and we see playing a role in the future for us as an all-rounder.’ If fit, and depending on conditions, Curran could be drafted in for the third Test against Pakistan at Edgbaston.
Sam Curran appears to be England's No1 choice to replace Stokes – but the 28-year-old has not played Test cricket since 2021
The star all-rounder on the county circuit this summer has been Somerset’s Craig Overton, and it’s not even close. He has scored 548 runs at 45, including centuries against Essex, Sussex and Warwickshire, and taken 33 wickets at 19, including five for 29 to set up a crushing victory over reigning champions Nottinghamshire.
Then there was his ridiculous unbeaten 79 off 30 balls to pinch a T20 Blast quarter-final from under Yorkshire’s nose.
But there is a reason England haven’t picked him since he won the last of his eight Test caps in the final game of the previous Joe Root era, against West Indies in Grenada: they don’t think he’s quick enough.
Worse, England came to the view that he wasn’t even the best cricketer in his family, only for Craig’s twin, Jamie, to announce he was taking an ‘indefinite break’ from Test cricket after last year’s Oval showdown against India.
