Harry Brook and Joe Root (Source: AFP Photos)
Last month, Harry Brook publicly announced that it would be an ‘honour’ if he gets to captain England in Test cricket. The development happened after Ben Stokes, one of England’s greatest ever all-rounders, decided to retire from international cricket.
Brook, one of the most talked about cricketers in the last five years or so, was already England’s captain for both ODIs and T20Is. However, the ECB decided not to make him the captain for all three formats.
Instead, they brought back Joe Root as England Test captain. His first assignment would be Pakistan tour of England, which will have three Tests between August 19 and September 13.
Harry Brook Puts Ego Aside To Back Joe Root
Speaking to the BBC, Harry Brook finally opened up for the first time on Joe Root’s captaincy after making his ambitions clear earlier last month. There, Brook showed zero ego while making statement on England around Root for coming days, saying the veteran was ‘definitely the right man to take over that job.’
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"The decision to make Rooty (Joe Root) 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," Brook told BBC.
Did Brook’s Past Cost Him The England Captaincy?
Furthermore, Brook was asked whether he was not considered for England’s Test captaincy position for a past infamous incident.
Last year in October, Brook had a fight with a bouncer in Wellington after he was declined a nightclub entry. Back then, even though Brook, the then England’s Test vice-captain under Stokes, was fined around £30,000 for the inciden by the ECB, the board kept him for while-ball captaincy roles.
As Ben Stokes retired days after a similar incident, Brook had to face the same question for clarity.
"I dunno. I honestly don't know. I don't really look at it like that," Brook added.
How Did Joe Root Fare As England Test Captain?
Root made his England Test captaincy debut against South Africa at Lord’s, back in 2017. He made significant impact with the bat immidiately, becoming only sixth player of all time to smash a century or more runs as England Test captain in his first outing. Root’s knock had 27 fours and a six during his 234-ball 190.
Since then, even though Root’s performance with the bat did not dip much, England enjoyed little success under him in Test cricket. Still, he is the captain for England in most Tests, having already led them 65 times.
During this period, he had 27 defeats and as many victories while having 11 draws. No wonder he will look to improve his numbers against Pakistan, as England are poised to begin a new era following the end of Bazball.
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