Will Harry Brook Become England’s Next Test Captain?

Discover why Harry Brook is ready to take over the England men’s Test cricket captaincy.

A Massive Shift

Cricket fans will be thrilled to know that there is a major change on the horizon for the England men’s team.

Following the heartbreaking loss to New Zealand, veteran all-rounder Ben Stokes announced his retirement from international cricket. A gaping void was left in the leadership department, but not for long, as all eyes are now set on the current white-ball skipper, Harry Brook.

Passing the Torch

Not only is Brook now in the running to become the red-ball captain, but a former leader in the game has thrown his support behind him.

Before walking away from the game, Stokes made sure to tell Brook that he has his full support to lead the team in Test matches. In doing so, he also backed up the decision made by Joe Root and the rest of the leadership.

A Childhood Dream

When asked about the potential upgrade, Brook revealed that he is beyond excited at the thought of captaining England in the famous red jersey. Speaking to the press ahead of the T20I series against arch-rivals India, the 27-year-old expressed his delight at being in contention for the prized position.

Brook noted that captaining his country in Test matches is a dream that has been looming since his days at junior levels.

The Double Duty

If Brook manages to secure the role, he will be expected to balance the demands of both formats. Such a scenario had not occurred since Andrew Strauss took up the post back in 2009. Interestingly enough, Brook is confident that he can handle the responsibility.

He reasoned that his decision to stay away from franchise cricket has allowed him to prepare his body in advance for the rigors of a packed county season. This way, he can split his time and energy between white-ball and red-ball cricket.

Total Commitment

Speaking of which, his total commitment to English cricket has shone brightly on the international stage. In a period where players are opting to pursue lucrative deals in the Indian Premier League and Pakistan Super League, Brook has turned down similar advances to focus on his country’s cause.

His decision to pull out of a deal with the Delhi Capitals shows his determination to bring success to England in limited-overs contests. Brook’s agenda is laser-focused on helping his country achieve victory in the shortest format, a goal that has so far eluded them despite his best efforts.

The Workload Worry

Despite his apparent enthusiasm for the post, it is still unclear whether the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) will entrust the inexperienced Brook with all three formats. The ECB is still wary about committing a young player to the immense pressure and physical toll that comes with being the captain of England in Test cricket.

The Worry

Another reason why the ECB may hesitate to appoint Brook as the new red-ball captain is the workload that comes with it. He leads the white-ball team in addition to starring in county cricket. In fact, Brooks has stated that he does not see the captaincy as a hindrance to his game.

The former Yorkshire batsman has a wealth of experience, as he has been involved in franchise leagues around the world, and he understands the value of taking breaks between matches to recharge his body and mind.

It may be the case that Brook has been sidelined from franchise leagues due to his commitments to England, which may affect his ability to balance his workload as captain.

The Immediate Test

Before any of that, Brook has a highly-anticipated T20I series against India, which will take place before the start of the Test season. Brook will have to quickly move from his Test whites to the T20I kit and shift his focus from the longest format to the shortest.

He will have to forget about the agonizing defeat and look forward to facing world number one India. In doing so, Brook will have to find a way to get his rested stars to gel together, including veteran campaigners such as Jonny Bairstow and Jos Buttler, as well as his dynamic young teammates.

The Road Ahead

As a T20I captain, Brook knows what he must do to beat a clinical Indian side. He will have to get his team to hone their abilities and execute their plans to the letter in order to overcome the free-flowing visitors.

He will be determined to show that the same spirit that saw England push past their rivals to the brink of the final in the World Cup will inspire his team to victory once again.