'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAX/xAAVAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADBf/aAAwDAQACEAMQAAAArCUn/8QAIRAAAgECBgMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQMCABMEBREWISJTkZL/2gAIAQEAAT8AhkzVJix7FyuC3DQHrIkcn1W3cT5kfJr/xAAXEQEAAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAAIR/9oACAECAQE/AGhk/8QAFxEAAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECA//aAAgBAwEBPwBZQf/Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
England take on Sri Lanka in the first match of their three-Test series at Old Trafford in Manchester on Wednesday, August 21. Skipper Ben Stokes has been ruled out of this series owing to a hamstring tear he suffered while playing in the Hundred.
Ollie Pope will now lead the side in his absence while young Harry Brook has been named his deputy. England have a brand new leadership group at the helm which head coach Brendon McCullum will want to mould into his image.
Brook has been phenomenal ever since he made his Test debut against South Africa in 2022 and has by now become a vital part of the red-ball setup for the Three Lions. He will be expected to continue his good showing in this series as well.
In this listicle, we take a look at three reasons why appointing Brook as vice-captain is the right move:
#1 Harry Brook is a product of Bazball
One of the biggest reasons why Brook is the right choice for vice-captaincy is that he is a product of Bazball and has imbibed the philosophy brought in by head coach Brendon McCullum.
Brook knows what it takes to go all-in to win a Test match, and he will serve timely reminders to all the players in the English side whenever they are seen being flustered or lacking in inspiration.
The 25-year-old will carry the identity forward along with interim skipper Ollie Pope, and it is imperative that England have that sort of continuity given the importance that these Tests against Sri Lanka hold.
#2 He can lead from the front
Brook has thoroughly bought into the mindset that McCullum and Stokes have brought into the English red-ball side, and one can expect that to continue in this series with his elevation as vice-captain.
His batting gives him the confidence to lead from the front and assist skipper Ollie Pope in his duties whenever he is called upon to do so. The Yorkshireman averages almost 60 in the 15 Tests that he has played so far.
He already has five centuries and eight half-centuries under his belt in his young career, and this confidence will allow him to contribute to the leadership group which believes in backing all players to the hilt.
#3 He has experience of captaincy with England U-19
Brook has captained England Under-19 in the past, and this will greatly aid his judgement of the game when he steps out as vice-captain of the senior England side for the first time. He is known to be an excellent reader of the game as well.
The youngster led Northern Superchargers in the Hundred with distinction, and cemented his relationship with former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, who was its head coach.
Brook is highly tipped to become England's captain in the future, and the experience he has had under Flintoff in the Hundred is expected to work in his favor. He must have learnt how to become a good man-manager, among other things, from the former Lancashire star.
