Brook would accept 'honour' of Test captaincy

Harry Brook would accept the England Test captaincy and believes it is possible to lead the country in all three formats.

England are looking for a new Test skipper after Ben Stokes' retirement and Stokes gave his "100%" backing to Brook becoming his successor.

Brook told BBC Sport: "I don't think you can turn down being an England Test captain.

"It would be an honour and a privilege to be Test captain – the pinnacle of our sport.

"It's not up to me to make that decision. It's up to people well above me. I'd be happy to do it if I did get asked."

Brook, 27, was named England white-ball captain last year and was promoted to Stokes' vice-captain in the Test side for last winter's Ashes tour.

As Stokes' deputy, he is an obvious candidate to become the 83rd man to lead England in Test cricket, with perhaps Stokes' predecessor Joe Root the only alternative.

But Brook already has a heavy workload as one of England's multi-format players, the demands of which are highlighted by the turnaround from the Test series against New Zealand ending on Monday to a five-match T20 series against India beginning at Chester-le-Street on Wednesday.

The busy schedule meant Brook only met all-rounder James Coles, who has been given his maiden call-up to an England squad, for the first time at training on Tuesday.

The last man to simultaneously lead England in all three formats was Andrew Strauss, in 2009. Strauss' spell in charge of the T20 side lasted for one match.

Asked if it is possible to be a three-format captain, Brook replied: "I think it is possible. I'm not saying it would be easy, but I definitely do think it is possible.

"The fact I don't play franchise cricket means there are periods in my calendar when I wouldn't be playing cricket.

"I'd be focusing on my fitness and getting ready to play all three formats, which has been a dream of mine since I could speak or walk. If I am or I'm not captain for England in Test cricket, I'd be happy to just still be playing for England."

England XI for first T20 v India on Wednesday: Phil Salt, Jos Buttler, Harry Brook (captain), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid, Luke Wood, Saqib Mahmood.

On Monday, England head coach Brendon McCullum said there are "lots of options" to replace Stokes as Test captain.

Beyond Brook or Root, it is unclear who those options may be. Opener Ben Duckett is assured of his place in the Test side, while 22-year-old Jacob Bethell has led England in T20s.

Pace bowler Ollie Robinson is a rare England cricketer who captains his county, Sussex, yet is far from a regular in the Test team.

If England opt against Brook, he said he would be "absolutely fine" with that decision.

"Whether I'm captain or not, I just want to play with the Three Lions on my chest and give it my everything," he said.

Before he announced the third Test against New Zealand would be his last, Stokes missed the second Test at The Oval pending an investigation into an incident in a London nightclub.

Brook was overlooked for the captaincy on that occasion, with the job instead being handed to former skipper Root.

England director of cricket Rob Key said there were "many reasons" why Brook was not asked to deputise for Stokes, and admitted one of those was because of the Yorkshireman's own involvement in a late-night incident during the winter.

Brook was punched by a nightclub bouncer in Wellington on the eve of a one-day international against New Zealand.

"I think the decision that was made was the right one," said Brook. "Making Rooty captain that week was definitely the right decision.

"He's always been there - he's been a stalwart for English cricket. In my opinion he's the best batter to ever play Test cricket. England needed him that week and he stepped up. My job was to help him as much as possible."

Being England Test captain can come with many responsibilities beyond what happens on the field.

In 1995, Michael Atherton led his team to a meeting with Nelson Mandela on England's first tour of South Africa following apartheid.

In 2022, Stokes was captaining England when The Oval Test against South Africa was paused because of the death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth.

Brook has attracted criticism for his actions off the field, like in Wellington, and his actions on the field.

Former England skipper Michael Vaughan called Brook's innings of 21 from nine balls on the fourth evening of the third Test against New Zealand "absolutely pathetic".

However, Brook's Test average of 53.04 is the highest of any man to play for England in almost 60 years, and he is one of only four men to have scored a century in all three formats for the country.

"I'm just happy that I'm playing cricket for England," said Brook. "People are allowed opinions, and I always try to do what is best for the side.

"Whether that's going out there and trying to put the pressure back on the opposition, and playing some daft shots here and there - that might happen - or whether it's trying to dig out a gritty innings to get a draw.

"I'm just a person who wants to go out there, score as many runs as I possibly can and get the team into positions where we can win matches."