English star, who once fetched ₹13.25 crore in IPL auction, SHOCKINGLY pulls out of India Test series

Harry Brook has been one of England's most important batters, with him playing an important role in winning in Pakistan.

English star, who once fetched ₹13.25 crore in IPL auction, SHOCKINGLY pulls out of India Test series

Harry Brook celebrates with his England teammates (Image via ESPN)

Harry Brook has been one of England’s most important batters in their Bazball revolution. In 12 Tests he has scored 1181 runs with an average of 62.1. His strike rate is also in the 90s, which is instrumental for Bazball to work. 

Ahead of Bazball’s biggest challenge– their tour of India, Brook has had to pull out of the tour. While much is not known about why he is missing the series, the England and Wales Cricket Board has stated that he will be leaving for personal reasons and asked fans to give him and his family privacy. 

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They have called up Dan Lawrence as Brook’s replacement, who last played for England in March 2022. While ECB has stated that Brook was out for the entire tour, his return for the series hasn’t been ruled out. 

Harry Brook’s absence solves selection debate

Before the start of the Test series, there was a huge debate between fans on who should be keeping for the English side. With their top 6 confirmed, there was a debate on whether Jonny Bairstow or Ben Foakes would keep the wickets. While Bairstow was the better batter and more suited to Bazball, Foakes was the much better keeper and less prone to mistakes behind the stumps. 

Ben Foakes Jonny Bairstow
Ben Foakes (L) is regarded as the best wicket keepers in England, Jonny Bairstow (R) is the better batter (Images via ESPN)

Fortunately for both, with Brook’s withdrawal both have a better chance of playing. Brook usually batted at three, but now Bairstow or Ben Stokes could bat at the position. Foakes will be wearing the gloves as he tackles the turning tracks of India. The first Test match will be played on 25th January in Hyderabad.

Expected England playing XI

  • Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Ben Stokes (C), Jonny Bairstow, Ben Foakes (WK) , Jack Leach, Rehan Ahmed, Jimmy Anderson, Mark Wood/Ollie Robinson 

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