Agnew: Brook as talented as Pietersen and Gower but not ready to be captain

Harry Brook scored 91 from 93 balls on day two of the first Test against Pakistan, and England went into day three with a 185-run lead. Jonathan Agnew wrote that Brook is as talented as Kevin Pietersen and David Gower but is not ready to be England's Test captain.

Agnew placed Brook's innings within a four-year, 38-Test arc of highs and lows, noting that the wild swipes which harmed him during England's Ashes defeat last winter were absent in this knock. He cited Brook's triple century against Pakistan in Multan as an example of the talent on display, and recalled dismissals in Australia when Brook was out driving Scott Boland in Perth and swinging at Mitchell Starc in Brisbane. Agnew observed that Brook was dropped once in this innings, then kept his concentration and "knocked bad balls for four," adding, "He will score a million runs if he keeps batting like this."

On the captaincy question, Agnew reported that Brook had been seriously considered by managing director Rob Key and others at the England and Wales Cricket Board but was ultimately overlooked. He suggested Brook might have reflected on that decision and pointed to incidents in Wellington and previous media comments as reasons why maturity remained an issue. Agnew acknowledged Brook's tactical ability and leadership in white-ball cricket but wrote that he had not been convinced Brook was ready to lead England in Tests.

Agnew argued the Test captaincy role extends beyond on-field decisions to representing the country and sometimes addressing difficult topics internationally. He referenced recent episodes involving Zimbabwe and Afghanistan as examples of those wider responsibilities and stated that Brook had not yet demonstrated the necessary maturity for that element of the job. For that reason, Agnew said Joe Root was the only viable candidate and that the hierarchy "had no choice."

to succession, Agnew wrote that Root's second stint as captain is "unlikely to last long, possibly only until the end of next year's Ashes," placing the onus on Brook to prove himself before then. He noted the possibility that Jacob Bethell, described as "highly rated as a leader," could overtake Brook as a candidate, but added there was "no reason Brook cannot be Test captain when Root leaves the role, especially if he is showing maturity through batting like this."

Agnew confronted the Ashes disappointment directly, accepting some will judge Brook's latest innings against what happened in Australia and calling the winter "one of the biggest disappointments in recent memory in English cricket." He wrote that lessons have been learned, pointed to changes in personnel and decision-making with Root and Stephen Fleming in charge, and listed forthcoming challenges as a winter trip to South Africa followed by the Ashes next summer. Agnew said England should keep the positive elements of the Bazball approach while avoiding its previous recklessness and inflexibility.

Agnew highlighted other contributions in the match, saying Jordan Cox batted with "restraint and class" for his 73 and that Root produced a more measured innings that helped hold the side together. He reported that Brook was later dismissed after misjudging the length of spinner Usman Ali and described Pakistan as having "picked the wrong team," suggesting they should have selected another seamer and were missing pace in their attack. Agnew concluded that this Test presented Root's England a chance to press their advantage and added that England can now press home their advantage and go 1-0 up in this series.

Jonathan Agnew was speaking to BBC Sport's Matthew Henry.