Can Harry Brook shift from recklessness to ruthlessness in England’s post-Bazball Test era?
At Headingley last week Harry Brook batted for two hours and 22 minutes and scored 91 off 93 as England began a new Test chapter following Ben Stokes’ retirement and Brendon McCullum’s departure from the Test coaching role. The innings came in a three-day win over Pakistan in Leeds by an innings and 103 runs that provided an early indication of a different approach under the restored captaincy of Joe Root.
Stokes retired at the end of a chaos-ridden series defeat to New Zealand in June, and McCullum’s remit has been curtailed to the white-ball side, leaving Root to resume the Test captaincy for a second stint with Stephen Fleming set to join him as coach for a three-Test tour of South Africa over the winter. Against Pakistan, Brook eschewed several of his trademark gadgets — he did not dance down the track nor shuffle across for the scoop — before being bowled by left-arm spinner Ali Usman while attempting to nudge the ball square on the leg-side.
Statistically, Brook’s record remains exceptional: he averages 53.63 after 39 Tests and is one of only three batters since the start of 2020 to average more than 50 in Tests, and he is currently No. 1 in the ICC’s rankings for Test batters. Early in his career he averaged 61.62 after his first 23 Tests, a mark the article notes has since fallen as his sample size has grown.
The piece cites specific instances where Brook’s impulsiveness has proved costly, most notably in the fifth Test against India at The Oval a year ago when, chasing 374, he made 111 off 98 before holed out at mid-off after swinging at a length ball by Akash Deep with 73 still required and seven wickets in hand; India then secured a six-run win to level the series 2-2. The article links that dismissal to what might have been different momentum for England ahead of the Ashes.
Another example referenced is the final Test of the series against New Zealand at Trent Bridge, where Brook produced a nine-ball 21 while attempting to follow Stokes’ promotion to open the fourth innings in pursuit of 373; Brook was caught at fine-leg trying to loft Zak Foulkes, and the stump mic captured Rachin Ravindra chuckling, 'what are they doing?'. The article also notes that Stokes’ retirement became public midway through the fourth day’s play of that Test.
Former fast bowler Stuart Broad is quoted on Sky Sports Cricket assessing Brook’s adaptability and potential: “He can play in any way that his captain and coach require for the team. McCullum and Stokes wanted him to play in a certain style, and that did play into his strengths. But if we look for improvements in Brook, I feel he could average 60 in Tests. England needs him to get the team over the line in big games. If he had got the job done against India, the narrative would have been different for England going into the Ashes,” Broad commented on Sky Sports Cricket. “If he can get through little periods and win those moments, he can be averaging closer to 60. Averages won’t matter to him, but it is more about being the guy who wins Test matches at important times. There are some instances when he hasn’t done that. Because he is so talented, we expect much more from him,” the former fast bowler continued.
Nasser Hussain is also quoted in the discussion with Broad: “Harry makes a really good captain. He has a good presence and a very good cricket brain. I personally would have preferred England going with Brook as Test captain. It would have been a forward-looking step. There is obviously the issue of what Harry has done off the field.” The article records off-field concerns as part of the wider assessment of Brook’s suitability for Test leadership.
The piece recounts a Wellington nightclub incident on the eve of an ODI against New Zealand last October in which Brook was involved in an altercation with a bouncer, and states that, "Even if the top honchos of the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) don’t concede, it would have had a bearing on the decision to not let Brook take charge of the Test team at this point." It also records Brook’s decision to pull out of the IPL in 2025 and invite a two-year ban from the tournament, quoting him at the time: “It is a really important time for England cricket, and I want to fully commit to preparing for the upcoming series. In order to do this, I need time to recharge after the busiest period in my career to date.”
The article concludes that Brook’s measured innings at Headingley may signal a maturing of his approach, and says: If he can buckle down and become ruthless, England’s new era under Root and Fleming can strive to accomplish series wins against elite opponents. Something that Bazball never managed.