Earlier than Brook’s debut he was described as “dumb” by Stokes, one thing for which the all-rounder later apologised.
His solutions could also be transient however don’t mistake that for a scarcity of cricket mind.
Brook’s 317 in opposition to Pakistan final yr could take the headlines however one in every of his finest innings was within the drawn 2023 Ashes collection at Headingley, when he hit 75 in a chase which needed to be managed with the urn on the road.
Brook, like Stokes, is a remarkably onerous employee.
He was the chubby child at Sedbergh, instructed he wouldn’t make a county cricketer as a result of he was not match sufficient within the discipline.
Brook corrected that by working within the Cumbrian fells and final yr he used a break, due to the loss of life of his grandmother, to shed kilos and have become the main fielder within the England crew.
That’s one space through which England’s white-ball groups are trailing one of the best groups on this planet.
The pattern measurement is small – 5 matches in opposition to Australia and one season with Northern Superchargers in The Hundred – with regards to assessing what kind of England captain Brook might be.
Nonetheless, don’t count on vital change.
“It is rather just like how we need to play in Check cricket. At all times trying to put the bowler below stress and make them change,” he mentioned throughout that Australia collection, when requested how he needed the 50-over facet to play.
Brook admitted himself he was “frantic” at first of that collection however general, regardless of England dropping 3-2 to the world champions, he largely impressed.
He confirmed creativeness in a win at Chester-le-Road the place Cameron Inexperienced was caught by a fielder in an uncommon place behind the non-striking batter, and bowler Jacob Bethell instantly turned to have a good time in Brook’s course.
Key may even hope captaincy brings one of the best of Brook the white-ball participant.
Brook scored 110 in that win at Durham, which stays his solely worldwide white-ball century regardless of all of his apparent expertise.
He was not the one England batter to wrestle, however a troublesome time within the Champions Trophy and the tour of India that preceded it leaves him with 188 runs throughout 11 white-ball innings at a mean of 17.09 this yr.
The largest detrimental of appointing Brook is the workload it provides to one in every of England’s busiest gamers as a Check, 50-over and T20 mainstay.
England’s schedule is packed, with 11 Assessments, 9 one-day internationals and 12 T20s earlier than the top of the Ashes in January.
There may be then a T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka to observe in late February and March, the place Brook will lead on the worldwide stage for the primary time.
For now at the very least, England’s plan is that he’ll play the whole lot.
There are not any direct clashes in fixtures whereas he’s younger, doesn’t have youngsters and has had a good break – having skipped this yr’s Indian Premier League.
It’s not with out threat. A burnt-out Brook would damage England virtually as a lot as an harm to Stokes in Australia.
For Key, although, this one is of venture value taking.
