Michael Atherton on Harry Brook: “When you pick a young player it’s very important and he’ll never be in better shape, he’ll never be more confident. I would have to pick him” – watch England vs New Zealand live on Sky Sports Cricket from 10am on Thursday
Michael Atherton believes Harry Brook should make his Test debut against New Zealand next week and says the Yorkshire batsman “will never be in better shape”.
Brook has gone over fifty in 10 of his 11 innings in all competitions so far this season: eight times at the County Championship, where he’s averaging 140, and twice in two games at Vitality Blast.
It seems unlikely that the 23-year-old will take his test bow at Lord’s with new captain Ben Stokes and former captain Joe Root who will be joined in the middle order by Ollie Pope and Jonny Bairstow.
But Sky Sports pundit and former England captain Atherton says he would select Brook, ahead of Yorkshire team-mate Bairstow in No. 5.
After seeing Brook hit 72-for-48 against Lancashire in Roses’ tied clash at the Blast, Atherton “would have to pick him over Bairstow at No. 5, just the way he is. His top-class form has been exceptional.
“When you pick a young player it’s very important and he’ll never be in better shape than this, never be more confident than this. He might deteriorate at some point and then if you put him in the team he might be a bit miserable.
“Bairstow was the success story of the winter. He’s been out in the IPL but in the test before that he had two hundred, one in the West Indies and one at the end of the Ashes.
“It’s not absolutely straightforward and the little conundrum has been created by the fact that Stokes has said that Root will go back to number 4 and that they want Pope to have a run at number 3.
“I don’t think England will slide Brook into that middle order, but the temptation must be there, it must be very tempting to play a youngster who is in that kind of shape.”
Asked what stands out about his Yorkshire team-mate Brook, Root said Sky Sports: “What a level he’s been at. I think that’s a very good trait to have at such a young age.”
“He has a great work ethic and puts a lot of thought into the game. He loves to hit and has made the most of the opportunities that he has had.
“He hasn’t gotten bored or moved away from what has worked for him. If he can keep it up, he’ll be a great player.”
Watch the first test between England and New Zealand, from Lord’s, live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event from 10am on Thursday.
