Harry Brook remains confident he has England’s white-ball cricket “heading in the right direction” but is ready to leave talk of the Test captaincy to the incoming head coach.
Brook saw his T20 team go number one in the world rankings after overseeing a 4-0 win over India, only to bump back to earth with a six-wicket defeat in the first Metro Bank one-day internationaI at Edgbaston on Tuesday.
Getting a 50-over team that has now lost 14 of its last 20 games back on track will be a major job in the lead up to next year’s World Cup but the possibility of Brook being asked to succeed Ben Stokes in the red-ball arena remains a live option.
Brook has previously indicated he has the hunger and the energy to take on all formats but the power structure above has changed, with Brendon McCullum sacked as Test coach while retaining the white-ball reins.
Speaking for the first time about those developments, Brook said: “It was obviously disappointing for me. Brendon has played a massive part in my career.
“I’ve only ever played under him and he’s been awesome for me. The things that he did for the Test side when he first came in, and in the last few years, have been phenomenal. He is going to be missed.
“It’s not up to me to make that (captaincy) decision. Whatever decision they make, I’ll be fully behind them. It’s up to them to decide who they want and I’m enjoying my role as white-ball captain at the minute.
“I think we’re heading in the right direction, what will be will be. Like I said, it’s not for me to make that decision.”
The field of potential candidates is thought to include Andy Flower, who may need some major flexibility considering his high-profile role with IPL champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru, as well as the likes of Jonathan Trott, Justin Langer, Richard Dawson and newly available Stephen Fleming.
It is understood there is no real prospect of Andrew Flintoff becoming involved, despite his current position in charge of England Lions.
Brook’s immediate job is to square the one-day series in Cardiff on Thursday, in the hope of setting up a Lord’s decider three days later.
To do that, England’s top order batting will need to show greater resolve after slumping from 61 without loss to 80 for five in Birmingham.
“There was a poor period when we lost five for 20 runs, which obviously made a massive difference in the game really,” he admitted.
“There’s always areas you want to get better at in any format, in any game you play. There’s plenty of areas you always want to get better at and sharpen up as much as you can.
“But the World Cup is a long way away. Hopefully we can come back stronger in Cardiff.”
