Brook on Test captaincy, batting and Wellington

Harry Brook remains unsure if a physical altercation outside a Wellington nightclub impacted his chances of becoming England's next Test captain. While Joe Root has been appointed to lead the team against Pakistan, Brook acknowledged the incident's potential influence.

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I dunno. I honestly don't know. I don't really look at it like that.

"I dunno," Brook told BBC Sport when asked about the Wellington incident. "I honestly don't know. I don't really look at it like that." He added that Root's appointment is the "right one" and expressed excitement about collaborating with the new captain.

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The decision to make Rooty captain is the right one. I'm actually really excited to see what he can do. He's definitely the right man to take over that job. I'm really looking forward to working alongside him.

Brook, who has become a prominent figure in England's 'Bazball' era, acknowledged the intense scrutiny he faced after the Wellington incident became public. Despite the personal challenges, he led England to ODI and T20 series wins in Sri Lanka and reached the World Cup semi-finals. He noted that the experience made him realize the significant responsibility that comes with the England captaincy, both on and off the field.

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It was a tough period, especially when I was at home, getting ready to face the media.

Despite the off-field controversy, Brook's on-field performance has been exceptional. Since his Test debut in 2022, he has scored more international runs across formats than any other player. Among English Test batsmen with at least 20 innings in the last 60 years, Brook boasts the highest average of 53.04. He also shared that his parents have always known he dreamed of playing for England since he was a child.

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I feel like the character that I showed throughout that period to go out there and still perform and lead the white-ball side fairly well - I was proud of myself and the team.