arry Brook has promised to bat with the attacking ambition that led to his choice when he makes his England debut in opposition to South Africa on the Kia Oval on Thursday.
Brook has been drafted in for a long-awaited debut after his Yorkshire team-mate Jonny Bairstow succumbed to a freak harm on the golf course that noticed him break his leg.
By each measure, Brook has been banging the door down for choice, which has ended up arriving in his favoured No5 place. Brook, 23, has spent all summer time in England’s Take a look at squad, is averaging greater than 100 for Yorkshire within the County Championship, and made an excellent 140 in opposition to South Africa for the Lions at Canterbury.
He has vowed to proceed taking part in expansively – the type that has been England’s trademark this summer time.
“I’m going to attempt to be optimistic and put the bowler beneath stress,” he mentioned. “I’m not simply on the market to outlive. I’m there to attain.
“The best way the boys have gone out and put stress on the bowlers to attain not simply survive has been excellent and that’s in all probability why they’ve been so good this 12 months.
“Once I was youthful I wouldn’t have paid to observe a attract Take a look at cricket. I’d have positively most popular to observe a end result so it in all probability suits my cricket a bit extra. Its thrilling isn’t it? Persons are wanting to return and watch England and the best way they’ve come about it this 12 months has been actually good.”
Brook just isn’t anxious a couple of lack of current red-ball cricket as a result of Hundred and the assorted England squads he has been a part of. He has performed eight Championship matches for Yorkshire, however none since July, that means his final red-ball motion was the tour match at Canterbury a month.
“I performed the Lions recreation so it’s not too unhealthy,” he mentioned. “It’s nonetheless a ball. I’m nonetheless hitting a ball. I don’t assume the best way I play modifications an excessive amount of. A bit bit extra extravagant in white ball, however like I say I’m nonetheless making an attempt to place stress on the bowlers.”
Whereas Brook is happy to begin his profession at No5, he says he would fortunately transfer up the order.
Harry Brook has no intention of being cautious on his England debut
/ Getty Photos“I’ll bat wherever the workforce wants me,” he mentioned. “I’ve been making an attempt to be a match-winner so long as I’ve been taking part in so if I could make a match-winning contribution then glad days.”
Brook admitted there had been moments of frustration ready for his debut this summer time.
“It’s not all plain crusing,” he mentioned. “I in all probability would have struggled a bit extra if it was bubbles and I wasn’t in a position to get away and play cricket, however I’ve been allowed to go away and have a bat to maintain the momentum up, which made it a bit simpler.”
South Africa captain Dean Elgar mentioned his workforce have been unmoved by Brook’s efficiency within the Lions match, as a result of Take a look at cricket is more difficult and the likes of Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje weren’t taking part in.
“That is Take a look at cricket now,” he mentioned. “You may bat like that if you would like in a 4 day recreation or a a County Championship recreation however that is Take a look at cricket, there’s quite a lot of issues that may put a cease to you as a participant, the gang or the digicam.
“I’ve performed fairly just a few days in opposition to him, good participant, received just a few runs in opposition to us, however that is Take a look at cricket and we’ve received our quick bowlers who didn’t bowl in opposition to him in Kent, so I’m not studying an excessive amount of into that. That is Take a look at cricket, it’ll humble you as a participant and as an individual.
“Hopefully he doesn’t do what he did in opposition to us in Canterbury. That is the massive league now.”
