The amount of fuss made over who will be England football captain has left more than a few people stunned.

Neither Sven-Goran Eriksson or Fabio Capello never truly understood the furore made by the English media as to who was made national skipper and wear the armband.

In Italy particularly it is seen as a badge of respect given to the most senior or outstanding player, but with Steve Gerrard’s decision to stand down there will come another discussion as to who should take the role.

The obvious candidates will be Wayne Rooney, as he is now arguably the senior statesman in the squad, or possibly Joe Hart as the lack of competition for the goalkeeping slot would suggest he would be a good choice if the FA are looking for stability in the role over a number of years.

But in football is it arguable as to how much the captaincy job really matters.

Essentially being an international skipper requires an ability to shake hands, exchange pennants and call the toss of a coin in the correct order and then it is down to you to make of it what you will.

You could be an all-action commander who demands respect for his influence and inspiration like Philipp Lahm, who won lifted the World Cup for Germany in Brazil a week or so ago, or you could be a keeper Iker Casillas whose role was essentially ensuring the ball didn’t his net while shouting a few instructions downfield at any who might listen and lifted the World Cup for Spain in South Africa in 2010.

Quite simply in football who is skipper can be helpful but is not vital to a team – however when it comes to playing cricket we are talking a job worth getting anxious about.

So it is very worrying that while the England football team probably have two if not more candidates to replace Gerrard, the England cricket team’s organisers and selectors are studying a massive dilemma as to whether they dare relieve Alastair Cook of the role.

England are now without a win in their last 10 Test matches, losing seven times, but the problem is if Cook is removed what is there to replace him with?

Cook could go on his poor batting form alone, but enough skippers in the past – Mike Brearley obviously comes immediately to mind – have stayed because they have offered something more when it comes to captaincy.

And that is perhaps the really telling reason Cook should go, as at the moment his only major talent when it comes to tactics and setting fields seems to be to be able to contrive a defeat from almost any match scenario – be it positive or negative.

Yorkshire’s Joe Root would appear to be an England captain in the making, but now might be too soon – though I suppose the old adage that ‘if you are good enough then you are old enough’ should be taken into consideration.

Of the remainder of the current team Stuart Broad already has responsibility in limited overs cricket, while Ian Bell and Jimmy Anderson are perhaps the senior players you might look to.

The only problem is that it is hard to see any of that trio making much more of an impact on the team’s fortunes than Cook.

So the conundrum is now whether to gamble that one of that trio actually might just relish the role and blossom as a match-winning skipper, or whether it is a case of sit tight and pray that some time soon the batting ability and tactical nous that seem to have totally deserted captain Cook make a welcome return?

My answer would be to forget Cook and give Root the chance to make the role his for years to come – which is probably why it is Peter Moores and not Peter Barrow taking charge of the England team.

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