- Published
Just under a year ago, Harry Brook was left wondering if he would be sacked as England white-ball captain and what damage he had done to his international career.
asserted
he → publish → career
From whacked in Wellington to the run-fest in Rawalpindi, Brook is undeniably England's most important cricketer and probably the best multi-format batter in the world.
asserted
Brook → whack → world
It was the first double hundred scored by an Englishman in an ODI, passing England's previous best individual score of 182 by Ben Stokes against New Zealand in 2023.
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It → score → 2023
In reaching 200 in 114 balls, Brook registered the fastest double ton by anyone in an ODI, bettering the 117 deliveries of India's Shubman Gill against West Indies only last month.
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Brook → reach → Indies
Brook has joined one of international cricket's most exclusive clubs.
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Brook → join → clubs
In completing the set of a hundred in a T20, double hundred in an ODI and triple century in a Test, Brook has matched the previously unique treble of West Indies' legend Chris Gayle.
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Brook → complete → Gayle
In the moment, the collection of another landmark might not mean a great deal to Brook.
uncertain
collection → mean → Brook
Despite his efforts, his team were beaten as the spirited Sri Lankans pulled off the second-highest run-chase in history in one of the most astonishing ODIs ever played.
asserted
Lankans → beat → ODIs
For a man who has previously spoken about prioritising match-winning contributions over individual achievements, Brook the captain was left dejected that his innings ultimately counted for nothing.
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innings → speak → nothing
He is the first man to make a double ton in an ODI and end up on the losing side.
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He → make → side
Still, it further underlined his status as the premier run-getter across all kinds of international cricket.
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it → underline → cricket
Perhaps only Australia's Travis Head can challenge Brook for the crown.
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Head → challenge → crown
Ranked by the International Cricket Council as the best Test batter in the world, Brook averages 53.08 in the longer format of the game.
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Brook → rank → game
No England player with a minimum of 20 innings since 1968 has a better average than Brook – he stands above Joe Root, Alastair Cook, Geoffrey Boycott, Graham Gooch and everyone else to have batted for England in the past seven decades.
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he → have → decades
In T20 internationals, Brook averages 36.21 at a strike-rate of 164.92.
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Brook → average → 164.92
No batter to have played at least 20 innings for a major nation averages more at a better strike-rate.
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batter → play → rate
Brook is learning to play List A cricket in one-day internationals.
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Brook → learn → internationals
After a slow start to his international 50-over career, Brook averages just under 50 in his past 29 matches and almost 57 in 2026.
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Brook → average → 2026
The responsibility of captaincy suits him.
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responsibility → suit → him
In ODIs, Brook averages 31 runs more as captain compared to when not.
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Brook → average → captain
In T20s, his average jumps 19 runs when wearing the metaphorical armband.
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average → jump → armband
Brook's workload is an issue, the Yorkshireman having played in every England fixture since being rested for a T20 series in Ireland last September and, fitness permitting, he will be the only man to play in every game this winter – that's five tours to four countries across three continents.
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that → play → continents
He left home last week and will not again see his own bed until mid-January.
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He → leave → January
He says his time to rest is during the Indian Premier League, the riches of which he has turned down in order to focus his energy on England.
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he → say → England
Brook probably does not get enough credit for making such a decision.
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Brook → get → decision
There is the question of how good Brook could become.
uncertain
Brook → be → ?
Ben Stokes revealed that, at the end of the Ashes, he took Brook to one side to say he should be averaging 60 or more in Test cricket.
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he → reveal → cricket
Speaking to the BBC in August, Brook admitted to not being the "finished article".
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Brook → speak → August
"I have the ability to hit it everywhere, I just have to figure it out quicker in games," he said.
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he → have → games
In terms of improvement, Brook has already shown a willingness to do the hard yards to become a better cricketer.
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Brook → show → yards
As a youngster, he struggled with his fitness, but has worked hard to become one of the best athletes in the England team.
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he → struggle → team
He has spoken at length about being better able to run twos – he is one of the best runners between the wickets in the world.
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he → speak → world
Brook has also turned himself into one of England's most reliable catchers.
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Brook → turn → catchers
As for the batting, well-qualified judges don't hold back in their praise.
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judges → qualify → praise
Last month, Stokes said Brook may have more talent than Kevin Pietersen.
uncertain
Brook → say → Pietersen
In 2024, James Anderson said Brook could surpass Root as England's highest Test run-scorer.
uncertain
Brook → say → scorer
Just last week, Chris Woakes labelled Brook as "next level".
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Woakes → label → level
The missing achievement is a starring role in winning a major series or tournament.
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achievement → miss → series
Brook's magnificent century should have been enough for England to win the fifth Test against India at The Oval last year, only for him to throw away his wicket with victory in sight.
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victory → win → sight
He has not made a century in 10 Ashes Tests against Australia and was only a bit-part player as part of the England team that won the T20 World Cup in 2022.
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that → make → 2022
…and 11 more, not listed.
The Aporia
