After being left out from the England’s ODI World Cup 2023 squad, Harry Brook has batted superbly in first two T20I matches against New Zealand. The 23 years Yorkshireman is definitely one of the most exciting talents at international level and he has been consistently proving what are his capabilities with bat.
Harry Brook scored 67 off 36 balls against New Zealand in the second T20I match at Manchester. This was a blazing innings that had led many English fans and pundits to speculate why Harry Brook is not in the World Cup squad. England, quite one-sidedly, won the second T20I match by 95 runs, New Zealand were of no match in any department against England on Friday.
The standout performers in the match were Jonny Bairstow, Harry Brook and Gus Atkinson. Jonny Bairstow scored 86 off 60 balls and was worthily adjudged player of the match award. Harry Brook was sensational with the bat, playing shots with freedom and clarity of mind, he shared 131 runs partnership with Bairstow for the third wicket. Atkinson, making his debut, couldn’t have asked for a more perfect one. In the very first over, Devon Conway became his first international wicket then he went to pick three more to conclude the match with 4 wickets for 20 runs in 2.5 overs.
Harry Brook must be seeing this matches to keep his case strong for the World Cup 2023, if an opportunity occurs, on the basis of these match winning performances, he will have a great chance to make it to the team without much hussle. Brook hasn’t played in India in international matches, his stint with Sunrisers Hyderabad was a bitter sweet one. Except a match winning century against KKR at the Eden Gardens, he looked quite ordinary with the bat, struggling largely against spinners.
Since Ben Stokes decided to a take a reverse turn on his ODI cricket retirement, it was clear that Harry Brook will be the one making space for his test team captain. England’s World Cup 2019 winning captain Eoin Morgan said about Harry Brook that a wonderful player he is but he can’t see him making it to the squad. A few days later, Harry Brook shows his commitment to become a proper all-rounder in white ball cricket which might make his case more strong for the World Cup squad.
Teams have to disclose their World Cup squad to ICC by 25th September and England has four match ODI series against New Zealand before that important moment. Not only it will be an opportunity for Brook but on the other hand, Stokes will feel a fair bit of pressure because he hasn’t played ODI cricket in long time and the scenario is depicted as Stokes has taken someone else’s place in the team so he has to rightly prove his case against New Zealand, a side he loves playing against.
