Former England’s swashbuckling batter Kevin Pietersen has expressed his surprise at Harry Brook’s omission from the 2023 World Cup squad. As Ben Stokes has made a U-turn to England’s ODI squad after retirement, Brook could not find his place in the team.
The 24-year-old from Yorkshire has played only three ODIs in which he has scored 86 runs at an average of 28.67 and a strike rate of 98.85. Brook has shown that he has the skills to turn the match on its head with his blistering batting, especially in his young Test career so far.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Kevin Pietersen said, “I’m absolutely flabbergasted that (Brook) cannot make England’s World Cup squad because he is pure quality. I just cannot believe it.
“I saw this guy at Headingley two years ago when The Hundred took off, and I immediately saw a superstar. I saw someone playing 360, who could hit the same balls over extra-cover or midwicket.”
Meanwhile, Brook said he was disappointed to lose his spot in the World Cup team but admitted he couldn’t do anything about it and he is got to move on.
He said on the sidelines of the Hundred, “Obviously it’s disappointing, but I can’t do anything about it now. You’ve just got to move on. I’m trying not to think about it anymore.
“(Stokes) is one of the best players to ever play cricket, so I can’t really complain, can I? I’m playing well at the minute and feel I could potentially add value to the team. (But) there’s always something more you could do.”
On the other hand, Stokes is a big-match player for England and he had scored 465 runs in the previous edition of the 2019 ODI World Cup, including an unbeaten 84 in the all-important final against New Zealand.
England will take on New Zealand in the first T20I on 30th August at Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street.
