Mark Butcher, the former England cricketer, has expressed his belief that leaving out the talented and in-form batsman, Harry Brook, from the England squad for the ICC ODI World Cup is a mistake.
Brook’s absence from the team was a result of all-rounder Ben Stokes making a comeback to the format, coming out of retirement. Stokes’ return was aimed at boosting England’s defense of their ODI World Cup title in India. The title was secured four years ago on home turf, and the following competition will take place from October 5 to November 19.
Despite achieving tremendous success in Test matches and T20Is, Harry Brook’s experience in One Day Internationals has been minimal. He has represented England in only three ODIs, all of which were against South Africa earlier this year. At the domestic level, Brook’s involvement in 50-over games for Yorkshire has been restricted due to clashes with other tournaments, particularly the Hundred, over the previous three years.
“I don’t see it, really. Brook is so startlingly good. Regardless of how much or how little ODI cricket that he’s played, it would not take him very long to get up to speed because he is such a rare talent,” Butcher said.
“There are some people who just have ‘it’, whatever ‘it’ may be. Finding them to accommodate at the expense of older players who have probably reached their peak, reached their zenith would be a much bolder and much more satisfying move,” he further added.
“It just seems to me that somebody of Brook’s incredible ability should have found a way in. The fact that Stokes has been picked doesn’t surprise anybody, it doesn’t surprise me. I expected that to happen anyway. Didn’t see it coming at the expense of Harry Brook. Brook missing out, I think, is a mistake,” said Butcher in the latest episode of the Wisden Cricket Podcast.
He further pointed out that England’s aging ODI batting line-up will be missing Brook’s youth and extravagant energy.
“You need that injection of a bit of genius knocking around in these tournaments and Brook has that in spades. England’s specialist batters in the group, the youngest is probably Joe Root, at 32.”
England will play New Zealand in the opening match of the 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup on October 5 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. This thrilling match is a rematch of the 2019 final game, which raises the stakes for the tournament’s opening round.
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