Michael Vaughan Backs Harry Brook Over Ollie Pope As England Captain During Stokes Injury

England's cricket captain Ben Stokes has been sidelined with a shoulder injury during the final Test against India, prompting vice-captain Ollie Pope to lead the side. Former England captain Michael Vaughan has suggested that Harry Brook, currently the white-ball captain, is a more suitable leadership candidate to succeed Stokes if injuries persist. Vaughan praised Brook as a 'born leader' and recommended that Pope remain vice-captain, emphasizing that vice-captains are not always ideal captains, citing his experience with Marcus Trescothick. Despite England's challenging position chasing 374 runs in the Test series finale, Vaughan defended Pope against criticism, attributing problems to dropped catches rather than captaincy. Stokes' injury recovery timeline of about eight weeks raises questions about leadership ahead of the upcoming Ashes series. The discussion reflects a strategic consideration within England cricket about the best leadership structure moving forward amid player injuries and team performance challenges.