LONDON: Harry Brook has already done enough in Pakistan to have ‘nailed’ their place in England’s XI at the Twenty20 World Cup, says former captain Nasser Hussain.
Brook, 23, arrived in Karachi with just four caps.
But the Yorkshire batsman was in superb form in the opening games of a T20 series against Pakistan, scoring 154 runs in three innings at a blistering 194.93 strike rate.
That tally includes a game-winning 81 not out in a 63-point win on Friday that gave England a 2-1 lead in the seven-game contest. Brook only faced 35 balls while displaying a wide array of shots from slick drives on the covers to unorthodox ramps off his shoulder.
“Coming into this series, you were like, ‘How can we get Brook into the starting XI for the World Cup? I don’t see how you can leave him out now, I really can’t,” Hussain told Sky Sports ahead of next month’s world showpiece in Australia.
“For me, he’s absolutely stuck in fifth place for the first game of this World Cup. He’s going to be a superstar in every format,” added the former England batsman.
“There’s no zone where you’re safe. Hitting at five is not an easy position…but every time he’s gotten to five he’s been prolific.”
England captain Moeen Ali, who led the tourists in place of injured Jos Buttler, was equally enthusiastic about the team’s rising star.
“Brooky shows what a special player he can be. He looks like an amazing player and I hope he grows up to be one of those top players,” he said.
Brook himself said there was no big secret in his approach.
“I just try to watch the ball and hit it. It’s as simple as that,” he said. “When I start doing wrong, that’s when I start predetermining things and overthinking things.
“If they go wide I try to hit it over the point; if they go straight I’ll try to hit it over the midwicket. I just play the ball on its merit.”
Brook, 23, arrived in Karachi with just four caps.
But the Yorkshire batsman was in superb form in the opening games of a T20 series against Pakistan, scoring 154 runs in three innings at a blistering 194.93 strike rate.
That tally includes a game-winning 81 not out in a 63-point win on Friday that gave England a 2-1 lead in the seven-game contest. Brook only faced 35 balls while displaying a wide array of shots from slick drives on the covers to unorthodox ramps off his shoulder.
“Coming into this series, you were like, ‘How can we get Brook into the starting XI for the World Cup? I don’t see how you can leave him out now, I really can’t,” Hussain told Sky Sports ahead of next month’s world showpiece in Australia.
“For me, he’s absolutely stuck in fifth place for the first game of this World Cup. He’s going to be a superstar in every format,” added the former England batsman.
“There’s no zone where you’re safe. Hitting at five is not an easy position…but every time he’s gotten to five he’s been prolific.”
England captain Moeen Ali, who led the tourists in place of injured Jos Buttler, was equally enthusiastic about the team’s rising star.
“Brooky shows what a special player he can be. He looks like an amazing player and I hope he grows up to be one of those top players,” he said.
Brook himself said there was no big secret in his approach.
“I just try to watch the ball and hit it. It’s as simple as that,” he said. “When I start doing wrong, that’s when I start predetermining things and overthinking things.
“If they go wide I try to hit it over the point; if they go straight I’ll try to hit it over the midwicket. I just play the ball on its merit.”