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Harry Brook continued his impressive run in Test cricket as England registered a dominant innings-and-103-run victory over Pakistan in the first Test at Leeds. The England batter scored 91 runs in the first innings and played an important role in helping the hosts take a 1-0 lead in the series.
Brook's approach has often attracted scrutiny because of his aggressive style and willingness to play unconventional shots. However, his England captain Joe Root has backed the 27-year-old, describing him as the best player in the world while highlighting his ability to see the game differently from most batters.
But those sort of maverick players, they always seem to be under scrutiny - Joe Root
Joe Root spoke highly of Harry Brook while speaking on BBC Test Match Special after England's emphatic win over Pakistan in the first Test.
Root compared Harry Brook's approach with that of former England batter Kevin Pietersen, pointing out that players who have a different way of approaching the game can often come under greater scrutiny because of their wide range of shots.
"I think one of his greatest strengths as a player is seeing the game how he does. And sometimes you're going to get it wrong, right? Look at Kevin Pietersen career, look back on it now and look at all the wonderful things that he achieved and the amazing moments and innings that he plays and games that he won because of how he played," he stated.
"But those sort of maverick players, they always seem to be under scrutiny because of the ability, because of the amount of shots they have, the amount of options they have."
He's the best player in the world - Joe Root on Harry Brook
Joe Root believes Harry Brook still has plenty to learn despite already establishing himself among the best batters in the format.
The England captain also pointed out that Brook has the ability to adapt his game according to different conditions and situations, something that will become increasingly important as his Test career progresses.
"And the way they see the game sometimes allows them to win games on their own with individual brilliance and sometimes will leave people in slight frustration. What we'll say, he's 26 [27] years old, he averages over 55 [53.63] and he's still very much, even though he's the best player in the world, he's still very much learning the art of test cricket and the fact that there are different occasions, different services and different ways to construct an innings and he's capable of doing all of them. So I'm not worried about Harry Brook at all," Joe Root added.
"He's got a brilliant cricket brain, he sees the game amazingly well and he'll continue to score runs. I think it's a great way to start the series for him again."
Harry Brook numbers and records in Test cricket
Brook has already established an impressive record in Test cricket since making his debut in 2022. He has scored 3,486 runs in 39 Tests at an average of 53.63, with a highest score of 317.
The England batter has also registered 10 centuries and 19 fifties in the format, while maintaining a strike rate of 87.08. His record against Pakistan has been particularly impressive, with 932 runs at an outstanding average of 84.72 in seven Tests, including four centuries.
