Harry Brook has said he is open to the idea of opening the batting in Test cricket.
Brook, 23, has been one of the form batters in the country this year, scoring 967 runs at an average of 107.44 in this season’s County Championship.
Brook then continued his fine red-ball form for the England Lions last week, where he scored 140 against South Africa as the Lions thrashed the visitors by an innings and 56 runs.
Currently the England team has positions three to six nailed down, with all of Ollie Pope, Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow with centuries to their name this summer, whilst captain Ben Stokes is at six.
England will be keen to pick Brook whilst he is in the form of his life. However the only spot in the side currently under threat is opener Zak Crawley, who has averaged 17.75 for England this summer. Brook was speaking to Sportsmail when asked if he would consider batting at the top of the order.
“I feel like I’d do a job batting anywhere to be honest,” he said. “And if I got an opportunity to play Test cricket opening the batting, obviously I’m going to take it”
Brook has opened the batting on occasion for Yorkshire in the past and batted regularly at No.3 early in his career.
‘But I do like batting five,” he added. “I’ve fielded a lot of overs this year and, after 120, 130 overs, it’s quite nice to just get in, take your whites off and chill for a bit.”
Brook made his international debut this year during the T20Is against the West Indies before playing all three T20Is against India this summer. He has already played T20 franchise cricket in Australia and Pakistan and has been signed up to the new South African T20 league that is to be played in January.
“For me, Test cricket is still the pinnacle. I think that’s the best format, the best competition in the world, the best standard. You play against the best bowlers, the best batters.
“Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love T20. But yeah, I’m still striving to play Test cricket.”
