Harry Brook is embracing leadership as he nears the one-year anniversary of the Wellington altercation that saw him punched by a nightlcub bouncer, insisting he wants to be “the man England fans and the team rely on”.
Brook has in the past admitted he could have been sacked as white-ball captain after being punched by a nightclub bouncer, hours before leading England in an ODI against New Zealand on Halloween last year.
Since then, though, Brook has stabilised an ailing 50-over side, with England winning their last three series having lost seven of eight before then, while the T20 team sit top of the world rankings.
With just under a year to go until the 50-over World Cup, Brook’s ODI average as skipper is 51.3 compared to 25.2 in the rank and file, and he is adamant he has grown in the last 12 months.
He said: “I’ve learnt a lot as a captain, I’ve learnt a lot as a person. I know it wasn’t an ideal situation to put myself in, but I feel like as a captain and a leader I’ve learnt a lot.
“Responsibilities and leadership aren’t just on the field, they’re more so off the field as well and actions speak louder than words.
“I enjoy the extra responsibility. I like the extra little bit of added pressure. I’m not going to go out there and score runs every time I bat but I want to be the man that is in that match-winning situation who can get us over the line.
“I know there have been a few innings where I haven’t managed to do that but hopefully I’ve turned that corner and I can really be the man England fans and the team rely on.”
Brook’s Test average of 53.08 is the highest among any England batter to have played at least 20 matches in more than 50 years, but former captain Ben Stokes revealed recently he told the Yorkshireman it should be as high as 65 or 70.
Asked what his initial reaction was, Brook replied with a laugh: “I mean 65 or 70 is a massive average, isn’t it, wow!
“Personally I’m not that bothered about the stats, I’ve always said I think there should be a match-winning column in your stats – that’s not there.
“I write stuff down and I try and judge myself on whether I’ve had a match-winning performance or match-winning impact in that specific game and I try and tally it up at the end of the year and see how well I’ve done.”
Brook’s immediate focus is on England’s tri-series against hosts Pakistan, who they open their campaign against on Tuesday in Rawalpindi, and Sri Lanka, with every team playing each other twice and the top-two finishers contesting the final on Halloween.
Rehan Ahmed was overlooked in favour of fellow leg-spinner Mason Crane, more than eight years after his last appearance for England.
Brook said: “There’s certainly no line through Rehan’s name at all. Mason’s just performed exceptionally well and we think that he deserves an opportunity to be in and around the squads.”
The injured Jos Buttler and rested Jofra Archer are also missing from England’s 16-strong contingent ahead of facing a Pakistan side who beat Sri Lanka on Sunday and are a much more of a force in ODIs than what they showed in three abject losses to Joe Root’s Test side recently.
Brook added: “It’s a great experience for us and with the potential of getting to a final, it gives us even more experience in those games where it’s do-or-die. It’s going to be one hell of a series.
“In the last six to eight months and we’re certainly trending in the right direction as a squad. I think we’re really building towards the make-up of the side that we want.
“Me and Baz (head coach Brendon McCullum) feel like we’ve got a squad where if someone does go down five minutes before the toss, we’re in a position where someone else can come in and fill that role perfectly well.”