England choose three-pronged captaincy approach

LONDON (Reuters) - England, taking the view that there should always be plenty of room at the top, announced on Thursday that no less than three skippers would be taking the team forward in cricket's various formats.
Particularly surprising was the promotion of opening batsman Alastair Cook as one-day captain just a few months after he was deemed not even worthy of a place in England's injury-plagued 15-man squad at the February-April World Cup.
That appointment followed Andrew Strauss's decision to quit the 50-over version of the game to prolong his tenure as test opening batsman and captain of the five-day team.
Stuart Broad, a 24-year-old all-rounder and like Cook a serious long-term candidate to replace Strauss one day as test supremo, takes charge as Twenty20 skipper.
A "very disappointed" Paul Collingwood who guided England to the world Twenty20 crown in the Caribbean last year, their only International Cricket Council silverware, makes way for him.
Thus, a tried and tested cool 30-something head has been replaced by a multi-talented tyro who until recently was regarded as a young man with a need to control a temper which over-heated rather too regularly.
Strauss, still very much the senior partner in the new triumvirate of skippers, was adamant the unorthodox new approach would pay dividends for England, insisting that the trio could give the teams added focus while still sharing ideas.
"There's no reason why I can't work alongside Alastair and Stuart. It's potentially the best way of getting the best out of the team," the 34-year-old told a news conference at Lord's cricket ground.
"It would be wrong for us not to tap into each others' ideas and thoughts."
Coach Andy Flower, who on Tuesday agreed a contract extension with rumours circulating that he may be poached by World Cup champions India, echoed his test captain's words.
"It's never been tried before, so we're quite excited about the opportunity. I don't think any side has had three captains before. We don't know if it will be successful," said the former Zimbabwe wicketkeeper-batsman.
NEW CYCLE
Flower believes elevating Cook, 26, and Broad to captaincy roles above more senior squad members such as Collingwood, 34, and Kevin Pietersen is just part of a new cycle.
England are not the only team to have made one-day captaincy changes, with Australia's Ricky Ponting, Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara, New Zealand's Daniel Vettori and South Africa's Graeme Smith all standing down since the World Cup.
"There was discussion about a number of other candidates, but there was a rigorous interview procedure we went through and we feel very happy with our decisions," said Flower.
"Paul Collingwood is very disappointed as you'd expect him to be. But he continues as a player. We believe it's time to move on. I'm really looking forward to this new cycle."
Left hander Cook was the outstanding batsman during England's 3-1 Ashes triumph, during which he scored 766 runs, though he was not included for the subsequent one-day series against Australia nor the World Cup in the Indian sub-continent.
"I know I can do a really good job for England at the top of the order. Australia's given me a lot of confidence," said Cook, who has made just three ODI appearances in the past 2-1/2 years.
"I've worked hard on my limited overs cricket in recent times. I've never seen myself as a test batsman exclusively."
Despite no captaincy experience since his school days, the passionate and occasionally fiery Broad said he has learnt from his past misdemeanours and is ready to lead England into the defence of their World Twenty20 crown.
Broad was fined last August for throwing the ball at Pakistani batsman Zulqarnain Haider during the second test at Edgbaston.
"I think it's important I keep the same passion for the game. I've had the odd occasion in the past where I may have gone over the line but I feel I've learnt a huge amount from that," he said.
"I've not captained a huge amount at all, but every time I take the field I try and think like a captain. I've been very fortunate to play under two fantastic captains in Strauss and (former England captain Michael) Vaughan," Broad added.
England host Sri Lanka in a three-test, five-match ODI series from May 26 before taking on India from July 21 to September 16.
They will defend their Twenty20 title at the World Cup in Sri Lanka in 2012.