September 3, 2024

Brook Embraces Deputy Role but Eyes Greater Responsibility Ahead

The role of vice-captain may not seem very significant, but recent performances suggest otherwise, especially when comparing it to Ollie Pope’s experience.

Since taking on the vice-captaincy for the Sri Lanka series, Harry Brook has struggled to match his usual high standards. His average of 39.50 from four innings is notably lower than his performance in other series where he played more than one match.

While Brook’s struggles are evident, Pope would likely trade his own average of 7.50 or any of his three scores in the thirties (following a strong 56 in Manchester) to avoid such difficulties. The two players are handling their new roles quite differently.

After England’s win at Lord’s, which secured a 2-0 lead in the series, Pope mentioned needing to ignore criticism. Balancing captaincy nowith batting is a challenge he faces for just one more game. The judgments about his leadership, especially compared to the inspiring Ben Stokes, will take more time to settle.

Brook’s Perspective: Vice-Captaincy and Career Reflections

Brook, on the other hand, seems as he always does. In good touch even without a score of note, and typically unflustered. “It’s not a massive role really, is it?” he said of vice-captaincy.

“I haven’t had to do much, to be honest. I think Popey has done an amazing job. I’ve tried to give him a few ideas here and there; he’s taken some and he’s shrugged some off so it’s been good so far.”

As for the runs, he is not worried: “[It’s] frustrating to get starts obviously, but I feel like I’m batting really well. And hopefully it’s just a matter of time when a big one comes.”

The differences in how Pope and Brook handle their roles are clear. Despite stepping in as captain, Pope’s England career has been marked by ups and downs, even during his steady stint at No. 3 under Stokes. In contrast, Brook has been consistently strong, and although it took him 14 innings to score his fifth Test century (which came against the West Indies), he also played key innings in last summer’s Ashes series.

Looking back to the summer of 2022, when Stokes was appointed captain, Pope proactively asked for the No. 3 spot, a move Stokes appreciated. Pope’s request demonstrated his willingness to take on a challenging role. Brook, meanwhile, was sidelined, carrying drinks until he finally got a chance in the final Test of that season due to Jonny Bairstow’s injury.

Pope views his call to Stokes as a turning point in his career. However, this decision also impacted Brook’s chances. If Brook had played more earlier in the summer, he might have been chosen as Stokes’ vice-captain instead of Pope. At that time, Pope’s strong performances, popularity, and age (25) made him a natural fit for the role. If Brook, now 25, had more caps under his belt, he could have been in Pope’s position as vice-captain for the Sri Lanka series.

Brook’s Captaincy Experience and Future Prospects

Nevertheless, captaincy has been a feature of Brook’s 2024 after taking the reins at Northern Superchargers in the men’s Hundred. “It was different, but it was good fun,” he said of the experience, which included working with new head coach Andrew Flintoff.

The Superchargers came close to finishing in the top three, missing out only on Net Run Rate despite losing just two matches. Brook, who missed the first loss to the Trent Rockets because it coincided with the end of the West Indies Test series, showed impressive tactical skills. His calm and focused approach helped him perform well in the unpredictable format. He also finished as the Superchargers’ second-highest run-scorer with 163 runs.

“Obviously I’ve played with Stokesy quite a bit now and watching the way he goes about it I’d be lying if I said I didn’t take a few learnings from him,” Brook spoke about his captaincy inspiration, noting that with Jos Buttler facing setbacks in his recovery for the white-ball series against Australia, Brook might soon have a chance to apply what he’s learned on the international stage.

When asked if he was eager to take on more captaincy roles, Brook gave a cautious “we’ll see.” However, it’s clear that leadership opportunities are likely in his future. With the Test squad including seven players aged between 23 and 27, plus 19-year-old Josh Hull and 20-year-old Shoaib Bashir, Brook is a key figure in shaping both the present and future of England cricket.

Stokes continues to be the standout figure, evident from his presence at Emirates Old Trafford and Lord’s. He will be just as prominent at the Kia Oval as England aims for their first perfect Test summer in 20 years.

If they succeed, both Stokes and Pope will share the credit. However, the lack of strong opposition from the West Indies and Sri Lanka means it’s difficult to gauge England’s strength as they prepare for the 2025-26 Ashes.

The main takeaway so far is that the next Test captain seems to be clearer. It’s looking more likely that Pope’s vice-captain, rather than Stokes, will take on the role.