Ben Stokes backs Harry Brook over Kevin Pietersen after 114 in Southampton

Harry Brook scored an unbeaten 114 for England in the first T20I against Sri Lanka in Southampton on Tuesday, powering his side to a big victory. Ben Stokes responded on social media by comparing Brook with former England batter Kevin Pietersen.

Brook reached his second T20I century from 42 balls, an innings that included 10 fours and six sixes as England posted 254/4; their bowlers then completed a 119-run win. Kevin Pietersen was watching from the stands and has recently joined Brendon McCullum's white-ball setup as a mentor ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup. Brook had studied Pietersen's play before the match and produced inventive strokeplay that observers linked to that influence.

Stokes, observing from afar, posted on social media: "I don't even think the genius of KP could come close to what Brook has talent-wise. You are an absolute freak, Harry. You're mint to watch." The former Test captain later softened the comparison, adding that both players were "freak talents" but that Brook was better in his opinion. The exchange sparked discussion about Brook's rapid rise in limited-overs cricket.

Brook acknowledged Pietersen's impact personally, saying, "I was actually watching his highlights earlier, funnily enough." He added: "He was a phenomenal player. The way he accessed different areas of the ground made it really tricky to captain and bowl to, and I'm looking forward to having a lot of conversations about that."

On Pietersen's wider role in the dressing room Brook said: "That's not just for white-ball cricket, that's for Test cricket as well. Hopefully he can have a big impact on my career. He's a hero to a lot of players in that changing room. We all grew up watching him and admiring his work and it's just awesome to have a man of his calibre in the changing room," Brook added. Pietersen accumulated almost 14,000 international runs between 2004 and 2014, while Brook has crossed 6,500 since making his England debut in 2022.

Brook dismantled Sri Lanka's attack during the innings, including taking 30 runs from Dunith Wellalage's over, providing material for the comparison with Pietersen. The performance reinforced Brook's position as England's current limited-overs captain and a focal point of debate within the game.

England will return to action against Sri Lanka in Cardiff on Thursday, with Brook's side leading the three-match T20I series 1-0.