Joe Root has hailed his England and Yorkshire teammate Harry Brook because the handiest batter within the sphere at this time.
The high praise comes after Brook’s fine 123 off 115 balls towards Contemporary Zealand in Wellington, which helped England get a chain-clinching 323-traipse victory. Coming in at 43 for 4 on the main morning, Brook’s knock was a masterclass in counter-attacking cricket and one he described because the finest of his 23-Test profession.
His profession already boasts eight centuries and a ambitious batting life like of 61.62.
Talking on 9 December, Root was effusive in his admiration for Brook’s skillset. “When you happen to asked me, Brooky is by a long way and away the handiest player within the sphere on the minute,” Root said.
“He has such an all-spherical game: he can soak up tension, be conscious it, whack you over your head for six, or scoop you over the keeper. Whether it be droop or seam, he’s impartial correct so onerous to bowl to.”
England captain Ben Stokes echoed Root’s sentiments, calling Brook ‘extra special’ for his capacity to salvage in involving stipulations.
Reflecting on the Wellington match, Stokes said: “From 40-odd for four on day one to worthwhile halfway thru day three, it be soft special. On that pitch, which was a right snake pit, no-one has a dependable to ranking 120 towards Contemporary Zealand’s attack. Brooky is good extra special. There are excellent a handful of gamers within the sphere who might perchance well also play esteem that, and I’m chuffed he’s for sure one of ours.”
Brook’s contemporary performances, which encompass yet any other century in Christchurch and a triple hundred in Multan, enjoy propelled the 25-one year-outdated to second net page within the ICC Test batting rankings.
Root, meanwhile, restful sits atop the rankings after scoring his thirty sixth Test century within the same match. That milestone introduced him level with Rahul Dravid for the fifth most centuries in Test cricket historical past.
Severely, Root has scored 19 of his centuries since 2021, a staggering 10 bigger than the following handiest in this length, Kane Williamson.
Brook, who averages an unheard of 91.50 in Tests a long way from home, was hasty to deflect the highlight abet to Root, acknowledging his senior teammate’s greatness.
“I’m attempting to acquire him, but he’s too impartial correct, will not be any longer he?” Brook remarked. “He’s impartial correct got yet any other hundred this week. He’s clearly for sure most seemingly the most handiest, if no longer the handiest, to enjoy ever played the game.”
Brook additionally tempered expectations, citing the restricted sample size of his profession to this level. “I’ve excellent played 22 or 23 video games, so these stats can quickly reach down. I’m impartial correct specializing in bettering, working onerous within the nets, and addressing areas that feel dejected. There might perchance be repeatedly room to salvage larger,” he said.
