Harry Brook is hoping to unveil his “pretty good” off-spin bowling in The Hundred in 2024.
The England middle-order batter has been used as a part-time option in Tests for his seam bowling, even dismissing Kane Williamson in the 2023 Wellington classic. Ahead of the tour of India, he has been working on his slow bowling, first as a joke, and steadily more seriously.
“It was jokey at the start but then I’ve actually started to get pretty good at it,” Brook told reporters in the Caribbean, where England are playing a T20I series. “So, I’m just trying to work on it and see what can happen.”
Brook suggested that The Hundred, in which he represents Northern Superchargers, was more likely to be the first platform for his off-spin than the India Tests. He also confirmed that his seam bowling remains an option.
“My aim is to try and bowl in the Hundred this summer and see what happens,” he said. “The seamers are still there – for Test cricket in England on a green seamer then I might be needed, like we saw in the Ashes. But I am trying to look towards the Hundred. I might not bowl, obviously, but it’s a little target I’ve got. And it’s actually coming out quite nicely, so we’ll see what happens.”
That Harry Brook last over in all its glory.
Scintillating batting.#WIvENG pic.twitter.com/yYUCLep80H
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) December 16, 2023
Brook has taken nine first-class wickets at an average of 53, with the Williamson scalp the only one to come in a Test match. He is yet to bowl for England in ODIs or T20Is.
Brook starred for England in their win against West Indies in the third T20I, hitting an unbeaten 31 off seven balls to complete a chase of 223. He currently averages 62 in Tests, with four hundreds, 29 in ODIs and 28 in T20Is.
The fourth T20I of the series, which England trail 2-1, will take place on December 19.
