Harry Brook’s positive outlook on missing out to Ben Stokes in the Cricket World Cup 2023
Harry Brook Accepts Omission from England’s Cricket World Cup Squad
You wouldn’t expect Harry Brook to be bitter about missing out on a place in England’s Cricket World Cup squad. After all, he was pipped to the post by none other than Ben Stokes, widely regarded as one of cricket’s greatest players.
Brook, 24, found himself named as an alternate for the preliminary squad that would face New Zealand in four ODIs in September. This decision came after Test captain Stokes decided to come out of white-ball retirement in order to help defend England’s 50-over title in India.
“He [Stokes] is undeniably one of the best players ever seen on the cricket pitch,” admitted Brook. “So really, can I complain? Probably not.”
The Yorkshire batsman has certainly shown his prowess with recent performances – scoring an impressive 363 runs during The Ashes Test series and smashing 131 runs across five matches for the Northern Superchargers during The Hundred this season.
However, when it comes to one-day internationals (ODIs), Brook only has three under his belt so far. His highest score was an impressive 80 against South Africa back in January. With changes being allowed up until September 28th due to injuries, it seems highly likely that the original selection will remain unchanged for England’s trip to India later this year.
Naturally disappointed at being omitted from the squad, Brook acknowledged that there isn’t much he can do about it now except move forward: “Obviously it stings a bit,” he said. “But dwelling on it won’t change anything; you just have to accept it and focus on what comes next.”
Brook made quite an impression across different formats since making his debut for England last year. National selector Luke Wright even admitted that choosing between Brook and Stokes was an incredibly tough decision.
Lack of experience in ODIs compared to Stokes, who played a crucial role in England’s victory against New Zealand in the last World Cup final, ultimately tipped the scales in favor of the Test captain. Nevertheless, Brook believes he has more to offer: “I feel like I’m in good form at the moment and could bring something valuable to the team,” he said. “There’s always room for improvement.”
However, due to limited opportunities to showcase his skills in one-day cricket, both at a county and international level, Brook was unable to make a solid case for himself this time around.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan expressed his surprise over Brook’s omission from the squad during BBC Two’s coverage of The Hundred on Saturday. He even went as far as saying that he would have chosen Brook over World Cup-winning opener Jason Roy: “The absence of Harry Brook is truly remarkable,” remarked Vaughan. “Sure, he may have only played three ODIs so far but there is no denying his exceptional talent. If it were up to me, I’d swap him for Jason Roy without hesitation.”
Vaughan further argued that excluding such a talented player from the squad just highlights how strong England currently are: “Every now and then you witness special talents emerge – Harry Brook possesses one of those gifts. Regardless of whether it’s seam or spin bowling, he performs exceptionally well. If I were betting man… mark my words; we’ll see him playing cricket in India this October – not on vacation!”
Steven Finn, known for his hat-trick against Australia during their co-hosted 2015 Cricket World Cup match-up with England also recognizes the versatility that Harry brings: “When selecting players for World Cups you want someone who can adapt to various roles. Harry Brook has the ability to bat anywhere from one to six in the lineup,” Finn explained on BBC Two. “He possesses the skill set required against new ball bowlers as well as spinners during middle overs, and he has the power needed to clear boundaries towards the end of an innings.”
Finn also believes that there is still a chance for Brook to make his mark in India: “The squad may have been announced, but it’s always subject to change. There’s potential for one or two alterations…”