IND vs ENG: ‘Everybody wants to be No 1, don’t they?’ – Harry Brook on rivalry with Joe Root | Cricket News

India and England are set to face off as soon as once more in lower than two days within the 5-match Test sequence in England. With India trailing 2-1 and on the again of a painful defeat at Lord’s, momentum is firmly with Ben Stokes’ facet. In a moderately daring press convention for the hosts, Harry Brook spoke to the media forward of the 4th Test at Old Trafford Cricket Ground. As the batter went over the moments of the heated third Test and England’s possibilities within the one which was set to observe, he made a powerful declare about considered one of his teammates.

Veteran batter and England icon Joe Root took high spot as the very best-ranked Test batter within the latest ICC rankings. Speaking on the identical, Brook lauded his teammate and even went on to name him the “best batter of all time.” Quizzed on whether or not there was any rivalry going on between himself and Root within the crew, Brook was fast to dismiss it. “Oh, everybody wants to be number one, don’t they? Him, probably more than anybody else. But no, he’s a phenomenal player. I’m not in the same league as him, so I’ll happily let him have it,” stated Brook with a chuckle, as he spoke to the reporters forward of the 4th Test. Adding to his argument on what makes Root so good, Brook stated, “He’s played for 12, 13 years—or however long he’s played. In my opinion, he’s the best Test batter of all time, so I’ll let him have that one.” Root additionally broke a number of information within the sequence, with one not being associated to the bat as effectively. With his 211th catch in Test cricket, he now leads the record for catches taken within the format, bettering India legend Rahul Dravid’s file of 210. He took a splendid one-handed catch of Karun Nair within the third Test. Root has been in impeccable kind for the hosts, racking up essential runs within the final three Tests. In the earlier match at Lord’s, the 34-12 months-outdated scored a gritty 104 off 199, and managed 40 within the second innings.

Brook, nonetheless, failed to impress with the bat in each innings at Lord’s, the place he solely managed 11 and 23 respectively. However, the hosts managed to recover from the road and reestablish their sequence lead with a 22-run victory. The 4th Test will begin on July 23, with India wanting to safe a win to keep alive within the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.