
âÂÂActions speak louder than wordsâÂÂ: EnglandâÂÂs white-ball captain Harry Brook relishes responsibility
Batter approaching unwanted Wellington anniversary
England take on Pakistan and Sri Lanka in ODI series
Harry Brook is embracing leadership and responsibility as he nears the one-year anniversary of his Wellington altercation, insisting he wants to be âÂÂthe man England fans and the team rely onâÂÂ.
Brook has in the past admitted he could have been sacked as white-ball captain after being punched by a nightclub bouncer, hours before leading England in an ODI against New Zealand on Halloween last year.
Since then, though, Brook has stabilised an ailing 50-over side, with England winning their last three series having lost seven of eight before then, while the T20 team sit top of the world rankings.
With just under a year to go until the 50-over World Cup, BrookâÂÂs ODI average as skipper is 51.3 compared to 25.2 in the rank and file and he is adamant he has grown in the last 12 months.
He said: âÂÂIâÂÂve learnt a lot as a captain, IâÂÂve learnt a lot as a person. I know it wasnâÂÂt an ideal situation to put myself in, but as a captain and a leader IâÂÂve learnt a lot. Responsibilities and leadership arenâÂÂt just on the field, theyâÂÂre more so off the field as well and actions speak louder than words.
âÂÂI enjoy the extra responsibility. I like the extra little bit of added pressure. IâÂÂm not going to go out there and score runs every time I bat but I want to be the man that is in that match-winning situation who can get us over the line.
âÂÂThere have been a few innings where I havenâÂÂt managed to do that but hopefully IâÂÂve turned that corner and I can really be the man England fans and the team rely on.âÂÂ
BrookâÂÂs Test average of 53.08 is the highest among any England batter to have played at least 20 matches in more than 50 years, but former captain Ben Stokes revealed recently he told the Yorkshireman it should be as high as 65 or 70.

Asked what his initial reaction was, Brook replied with a laugh: âÂÂI mean 65 or 70 is a massive average, isnâÂÂt it, wow! Personally IâÂÂm not that bothered about the stats, IâÂÂve always said I think there should be a match-winning column in your stats â thatâÂÂs not there.
âÂÂI write stuff down and I try and judge myself on whether IâÂÂve had a match-winning performance or match-winning impact in that specific game and I try and tally it up at the end of the year and see how well IâÂÂve done.âÂÂ
BrookâÂÂs immediate focus is on EnglandâÂÂs tri-series against hosts Pakistan, whom they open their campaign against on Tuesday in Rawalpindi, and Sri Lanka, with every team playing each other twice and the top-two finishers contesting the final on Halloween.
Rehan Ahmed was overlooked in favour of fellow leg-spinner Mason Crane, more than eight years after his last appearance for England.
Brook said: âÂÂThereâÂÂs certainly no line through RehanâÂÂs name at all. MasonâÂÂs just performed exceptionally well and we think that he deserves an opportunity to be in and around the squads.âÂÂ
The injured Jos Buttler and rested Jofra Archer are also missing from EnglandâÂÂs 16-strong contingent ahead of facing a Pakistan side who beat Sri Lanka on Sunday and are a much more of a force in ODIs than they showed in three abject losses to Joe RootâÂÂs Test side recently.
Brook added: âÂÂItâÂÂs a great experience for us and with the potential of getting to a final, it gives us even more experience in those games where itâÂÂs do-or-die. ItâÂÂs going to be one hell of a series.
âÂÂIn the last six to eight months and weâÂÂre certainly trending in the right direction as a squad. I think weâÂÂre really building towards the make-up of the side that we want.
âÂÂMe and Baz [head coach Brendon McCullum] feel like weâÂÂve got a squad where if someone does go down five minutes before the toss, weâÂÂre in a position where someone else can come in and fill that role perfectly well.âÂÂ
