Brook on Test captaincy, batting and Wellington
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There are numerous reasons why it will be Joe Root, rather than Brook, leading England into a new era against Pakistan at Headingley: the timing of Ben Stokes' retirement, Brook's workload as white-ball captain and Root's surprise willingness to resume the job among them. Inescapably, there is also what happened during the winter, when Brook was punched by a nightclub bouncer in Wellington on the eve of a one-day international against New Zealand. In June, Brook said it would be an "honour" to be asked to succeed Stokes. Almost two months later, he does not know if the Wellington incident has cost him the top job, at least for now. "I dunno," he tells BBC Sport. "I honestly don't know. I don't really look at it like that. "The decision to make Rooty captain is the right one. I'm actually really excited to see what he can do. He's definitely the right man to take over that job. I'm really looking forward to working alongside him." For some, Brook became the poster boy of everything they disliked about the Bazball era, both for what happened off the field and for the way he plays the game on it. At this point, it's probably worth noting that no man has scored more international runs across formats since Brook made his Test debut in 2022. Of all players to have batted at least 20 times in Test cricket for England in the past 60 years, no one has a higher average than Brook's 53.04. Brook has occasionally done himself no favours, but there is also something uncomfortable about the narrative that surrounds the 27-year-old, especially in a sport that struggles with elitism. He often speaks about how he is living his dream - his parents have told him he has been talking about playing for England since he uttered his first words. But not everything about playing for England is a dream. Scrutiny, criticism and the court of public opinion. Brook had the lot after the Wellington misdemeanour became public knowledge. "It was a tough period, especially when I was at home, getting ready to face the media," he says. "I feel like the character that I showed throughout that period to go out there and still perform and lead the white-ball side fairly well - I was proud of myself and the team. "I don't want to say it's helped me, but it's made me realise how big it is to be England captain. It's not just the leadership on the field. It makes a massive difference if you can lead with responsibility off the field." Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Brook made just six in the third ODI in Wellington the day after the nightclub incident, with England losing the series 3-0 Amid the Wellington fallout, Brook led England to important ODI and T20 series wins in Sri Lanka, as well as the semi-finals of the World Cup that followed. His own form was superb. In the maelstrom, he drew on an experience from three years earlier. In 2023, his only season in the pressure cooker of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Brook struggled. After his one significant score for Sunrisers Hyderabad - admittedly an unbeaten century - he said he was glad to "shut up" supporters that had been "slagging me off". "I got into a little bit of a rabbit hole with scrutiny and social media when I was at the IPL," says Brook. "It didn't help me as a person on the field or off the field. I decided to, not stay away from social media, but also not go out of my way to look at it. "On the other hand, I actually feel it's a little bit of a compliment if people are giving me scrutiny and have an opinion about my game. "I know it's not a nice thing to see people slagging you off, but it means people care and people think I can put in a better performance than I have done that day." There are comparisons that can be drawn between Brook and Stokes. Maverick players from working-class backgrounds, often finding themselves outnumbered by the well-to-do members of the dressing room. But, like Stokes, Brook is authentic in the way he plays and speaks, even if that can get him into trouble. One example would be Brook's "who cares" line about batters being caught in the deep after an ODI against Australia two years ago. "I would say that I'm an extremely honest person," says Brook. "I'm honest with myself and honest with my game. "A lot of people say honesty is the best policy. I probably have got into trouble a few times being too honest." Authenticity bleeds into Brook's batting, for better and worse. He is probably the most thrilling batter to wear an England shirt since Kevin Pietersen and no batter with at least 3,000 Test runs has scored more quickly than Brook, whose strike rate is almost 87 runs per 100 balls. But Brook can delight and frustrate in equal measure, nowhere more so than on an Ashes tour when an average just under 40 was a disservice to his ability. Costly crimes included his drive at Scott Boland in the calamitous second-innings collapse in the first Test and trying to hit Mitchell Starc for six over extra cover in the first innings of the second Test. "Shocking shots" were how Brook described them in Australia. "If supporters get frustrated, imagine how frustrated I get," says Brook. "It's something I've been really trying to work on, trying to assess conditions quicker, and read the surface better. To go out there knowing what shots are going to be hard and what is going to be easier. "I practise every single shot and have done since the age of eight. In the nets, I'd do a 360 challenge with my dad. He'd throw balls and I'd have to try to hit it to a certain place: that corner, then that corner. "I have the ability to hit it everywhere, I just have to figure it out quicker in games." Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Brook has 10 centuries in 38 Tests but will be looking to end a run of 16 innings without one against Pakistan At the end of that Ashes, Stokes pulled Brook aside to tell him his Test average could be as high as 65 or 70.
Source: BBC Sport
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