ICC World Cup 2023: "Just Like Saying Sachin Tendulkar Shouldn't Get Into Squad Because..." - Mark Butcher On Harry Brook's WC Snub

Former England cricketer Mark Butcher wasn’t impressed with Harry Brook not making it into the team for the ICC World Cup 2023. He said that dropping the youngster from the team is like dropping Sachin Tendulkar because he’s too young.

England recently named their provisional squad for the ICC World Cup 2023. Ben Stokes made a return to the team as he took back his retirement. But what caught the attention of many was he was selected into the team at the expense of young Harry Brook.

Harry Brook, who is England’s all-format player and is touted as the future, is one of the exciting talents in the world of cricket and it’s fair to say that no one would’ve thought that he would be dropped. The right-hander has performed magnificently at the big stages and even was part of England’s T20 World Cup winning team in 2022.

Harry Brook has played just three ODIs so far and has smashed one half-century as well. But in Test cricket, where he has played in some difficult conditions, he averages over 60 and has played some blistering knocks. He recently also smashed a magnificent ton in the Hundred as well.

Mark Butcher while highlighting Sachin Tendulkar’s example said that Harry Brook’s ability should’ve found him in the team in place of Jason Roy or Dawid Malan, who haven’t shown any form. Speaking to Wisden Cricket, he explained

“He (Brook) is so good that regardless of how much or how little ODI cricket he has played, he might not take too long to get to speed. This is just like saying Sachin shouldn’t get into India’s ODI squad because he is too young back in the day.

“I don’t see it really (on Brook’s snub). Malan and Roy, the two specialist batters beyond achievements in the past that have been stellar, haven’t shown any form going into it (World Cup). Brook is so startlingly good that someone of his ability should have found a way in place of one of those two guys.”

ICC World Cup 2023: I didn’t see it coming at the expense of Harry Brook – Mark Butcher On Ben Stokes Returning

Ben Stokes, who made a return to the England team for the World Cup, played his last match in the 50-over format in July 2022. He was approached by team management and he didn’t deny them.

Mark Butcher said that Ben Stokes getting back into the team wasn’t a surprise for him but he didn’t imagine it coming at the cost of Harry Brook. He added:

“Showing Malan and telling that we need a left-hander in top order is all well and good. But then not showing any form whatsoever, he might as well bat right-handed (laughs). Stokes getting selected is not a surprise to me, but I didn’t see it coming at the expense of Harry Brook.”

England still can make changes to the team as ICC has kept the deadline till 27 September. It remains to be seen if they fit Harry Brook in the team or not.