Ben Stokes believes Harry Brook can emulate Virat Kohli’s all-format dominance after the young Englishman impressed again in Pakistan.
Yorkshire Brook’s batting played a key role as England secured a first Test series win in Pakistan in 22 years after a nail-biting 26-run victory in Multan on Monday.
The 23-year-old managed just nine runs in the first innings but responded with 109 in the second – his only century of the second Test – to help England to an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.
This form is no surprise given that Brook hit 153 and 87 in Rawalpindi, with his red-ball international average at an impressive 73.8 from his five innings.
However, Stokes believes this is just the beginning for Brook, who he expects to excel in all formats of cricket as he compared the England batsman to India’s great Kohli.
“After the summer he had last year, to get all the big teams before he made his debut, to come here and put in that kind of performance again was just phenomenal,” Stokes told Sky Sports.
“He’s one of those rare players that you look at in all formats and you can see him succeed everywhere.
“It’s a massive call but Virat Kohli is one of those guys where his technique is so simple and it works everywhere. The pressure he puts on the opposition again is exactly what we’re talking about.”
Brook amassed just 56 runs at an average of just 11.2 in six innings as England lifted their second T20 World Cup in Australia.
The middle-order batsman has impressed in the shortest format for England in his 20 outings, however, as he hopes to make Jos Buttler’s squad for the 50-over Cricket World Cup in India in 2023.
Stokes does not foresee the pressure affecting Brook’s form, given the comfortable manner in which he has eased into the Test side.
“The expectation on him coming into this team, because of how good he’s been for Yorkshire, was obviously huge,” he said.
“But I think it just shows that these things don’t really affect him. He’s a player whose technique is suitable for all three formats, he always wants to look to put pressure on the opposition and he’s won another game for England.
“[He made a] Big contribution last week, and the hundred he scored here was obviously huge for us in getting that big lead.
“He’s a very simple guy to captain: he just goes about his business, loves his batting, wants to constantly improve, constantly work on it. He’s a very easy guy to have in the room your undress.”
Jonny Bairstow’s injury offered Brook the opportunity to take over the number five role for Stokes, with the England Test captain admitting he is lucky to have a wealth of batting talent.
“We’re very, very lucky with the way we can replace Jonny, to have Harry come in, because both of them, hitting No.5, they both do it in the same way, he added.
“They bring a lot to the team and obviously Harry playing the way he has at the moment with Jonny not in the team, unfortunately, is the best thing you want.
“You want competition for places, you want a strong squad to be able to pick and you want those headaches when it comes to the final 11 every week, rather than saying ‘I’m not sure who we’re going to pick. , let’s pick a name out of the hat.’
“We’re definitely not in that situation and we feel like we’ve covered all the bases right now.”
