Alastair Cook 6/4 to step down as England skipper in 2017
Published:
Alastair Cook is just 6/4 to stand down as England captain next year, after his side lost the Test series to India with a match to spare.
The Essex batsman has won 24 of his 58 Tests in charge of the Three Lions, losing 21.
And following the tour of India, Cook is expected to meet with England director of cricket Andrew Strauss to discuss his future in the role.
Coach Trevor Bayliss has said Cook can keep the position for as long as he wants it, but England have lost four of their last five Test matches, and the man himself has admitted to questioning his continuation in the role.
Our traders have gone 1/2 that Cook sees 2017 through, but if he doesn’t, there’s only one man being touted to succeed him – Joe Root.
According to the betting, Root is the only man in contention to become England’s next skipper at 1/10.
The Yorkshireman has been little short of sensational since making his England debut in 2012, and Cook himself has said he thinks Root is ready to captain the country.
Root’s C.V is growing by the year, and he can already count upon the 2014 Wisden Cricketer of the Year and the 2015 England Test Cricketer of the Year awards.
And as of the latest ICC batsman rankings, Root sits third in the world’s Test top 10, eighth among the planet’s best ODI hitters, and seventh when it comes to T20 runscoring action.
India’s Virat Kohli is the only other man to feature in all three lists.
While the tour of India hasn’t been a glowing success, England have been able to witness a glimpse of their own future.
Haseeb Hameed and Keaton Jennings each impressed on their international bows, and Hameed is 8/1 to captain the country during his career, with 5s on Jennings one day following in Cook’s footsteps.
But before we look too far down the line, it already appears everything is in place for England’s Yorkshire saviour to become captain in the near future.
Ladbrokes latest betting
Cook to stand down as test captain in 2017
Yes – 6/4
No – 1/2
Next permanent England Test Captain
J Root – 1/10
J Bairstow – 9/1
J Butler – 9/1
B Stokes – 25/1
To be Permanent England Test Captain in Career
Keaton Jennings – 5/1
Haseeb Hameed – 8/1
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
