Ben Stokes no longer plays for England – but that hasn’t stopped him from praising players who play or have done.
Harry Brook is, in many ways, a modern-day Kevin Pietersen.
A jaw-dropping batsman who can pick apart any bowling attack and make access to any part of the ground look routine, but also prone to driving fans crazy with the odd exception.
However, in Southampton on Tuesday, we only saw the best of Brook as he scored a 42-ball century – England’s second-fastest in T20Is – against Sri Lanka, with 10 fours and half a dozen sixes including six boundaries in one off Dunith Wellalage.
The impressive matches were played before England legend Pietersen, who has joined coach Brendon McCullum’s white-ball squad as a mentor, until the 50th World Cup in South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe at the end of 2027.
And Brook’s knock prompted Stokes to take to social media to say that, in his opinion, the Yorkshireman’s ability surpasses that of Pietersen.
Brook or Pietersen? Have your say!
Stokes, on the day he scored a half-century for Durham against Worcestershire in the County Championshipwrote: “I don’t even think KP’s genius can come close to Brook’s talent.
Shortly afterwards, former Test captain Stokes added: “A bit harsh on KP actually. They’re both freak talents but Brook is better in my opinion.”
So who do you think is the more talented of the two? Vote in the poll below.
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Watch Sky Sports pundit Stuart Broad’s failed attempt to get an interview with Brook at half-time at the Utilita Bowl
Brook still has a long way to go to match Pietersen’s longevity.
KP amassed almost 14,000 international caps between 2004 and 2014, a number he was prevented from adding to after a run-in with the ECB cut short his England career.
Brook has over 6,500 international runs since debuting in 2022, so all too well he will eclipse Pietersen’s haul at some stage.
At 27, he may have more than a decade.
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Sky Sports’ Eoin Morgan and Kumar Sangakkara praise Brook after his century at Southampton
“Genius Brook has everything like dough”
Brook’s blistering century against Sri Lanka was his first in any international cricket since a T20 ton against Pakistan in February during a World Cup match in Pallekele.
It was worth the wait. The batter’s length selection was outstanding in an innings rated highly by Sky Sports pundits Eoin Morgan and Kumar Sangakkara.
Sangakkara said of Brook: “He reads the length so quickly. He is very light and nimble on his feet. He has a lot of timing and devastating power. On the back foot against spin, he is very good at hitting long, long, even square.
“Then against pace there’s the spoon and back paddle or punch down the ground for six. He’s got it all.”
Kevin Pietersen (right) is now a mentor to England’s white-ball teams
Morgan added: “I think Harry is one of our best. It’s hard to find a player of the last generation who has Brook’s ability.
“He is coming into his peak years, yet we are seeing absolute genius time and time again in all formats of the game.”
Morgan is also eligible for all formats.
Brook’s last Test century may have come more than a year ago, against India at the Kia Oval, but he has fallen in recent games with the red ball, batting much more responsibly as he scored his fifty over the summer in the longest form of the international game.
I feel like I’ve been there or thereabouts all summer, in all three formats. I feel like I’ve let myself down a few times – I had the opportunity to score big. Fortunately I didn’t give that chance today. It was nice to get to three figures. A special feeling.
In the shortest form of the international game on Tuesday night, he reached a century – and how.
He can now talk it over with KP, a guy who might have even more talent than…
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Highlights as England beat Sri Lanka by 119 runs in the first T20 International of the three-match series
Watch England vs Sri Lanka 2nd T20 match live Sky Sports Cricket AND Sky Sports’ main event from 18:00 on Thursday (18:30 first ball). The latest Sky Sports offers OR there is no contract with TANI.
Results and matches England – Sri Lanka
All time UK and Ireland; all matches live on Sky Sports
- 1st T20 (Utility Bowl) – England win by 119 runs
- 2nd T20 (Thursday 17 September) – Cardiff (18.30)
- 3rd T20 (Saturday 19 September) – Old Trafford (14.30)
- 1st ODI (Tuesday 22 September) – Durham (12.30pm)
- Second ODI (Thursday 24 September) – Headingley (12.30pm)
- 3rd ODI (Sunday 27 September) – Kia Oval (10.30)
