Stokes doesn't need extra captaincy pressure, says Pietersen
Kevin Pietersen does not think Ben Stokes should captain England if Joe Root is forced to miss a casino game against the West Indies since it would heap an excessive amount of strain on the all-rounder.
Root's wife is due to give birth in July, meaning he risks missing among the three behind-closed-doors Tests against the Caribbean side the following month.
Root has backed vice-captain Stokes to accomplish an excellent job in his absence, but former England skipper Pietersen is wary about the all-rounder assuming a lot more responsibility.
Pietersen, who said he "hated" the duty to be captain of England for a brief spell, would like wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler to dominate.
"Do I wish to see Ben Stokes differ from who he's and the existing player he is? Most likely not. Jos Buttler would be my guy," he told talkSPORT.
"The entertainers and the people that have to transport the mantle in the team sometimes aren't the best captains and sometimes struggle with the extra added pressure."
Pietersen said the captaincy changed how players were viewed in the dressing room.
"I struggled with it, I absolutely hated it and I was rubbish," he said. "You need to change and I couldn't command the respect of the dressing room."
England get started their summer of cricket, which includes been badly damaged by the coronavirus pandemic, on July 8 with the first Test against the West Indies.
Further international matches against Pakistan, Australia and Ireland are all pencilled in, nonetheless they are all apt to be played in empty stadiums.
"I would rather maintain the broadcaster chair than in the players' chair because entertainers like atmosphere and you will have to build your own atmosphere and dig as deep since you can to try your very best and perform in front of a whisper," Pietersen said.
"It will be hard, especially for cricket. Six hours, if you are in the field and guys are batting and you're 100 overs into an innings, England will have to dig deep since it is going to feel just like a warm-up game, with no-one watching."
