Harry Brook sets sights on becoming permanent spin option for England

Harry Brook aims to bowl off spin during the Hundred as he continues to work on expanding his repertoire.

Brook’s stunning undefeated 31 from just seven balls completed a remarkable run chase for England in Grenada on Saturday, keeping the Twenty20 series alive. Jos Buttler side are now 2-1 down heading into the final two matches in Trinidad and Tobago, which will be played on Tuesday and Thursday, but the Yorkshire batsman is already giving attention to developing his off spin.

The 24-year-old has bowled off spin regularly in the nets throughout England’s white-ball tour of the Caribbean. While Brook’s seam bowling dismissed Kane Williamson, New Zealand’s star batsman, in a Test this year and was used as a surprise weapon in the Ashes, he believes that his off spin can make an impact in the professional game.

“It was jokey at the start but then I’ve actually started to get pretty good at it,” Brook said. “So, I’m just trying to work on it and see what can happen. My aim is to try and bowl in the Hundred this summer and see what happens. The seamers are still there – for Test cricket in England on a green seamer then I might be needed, like we saw in the Ashes.

“But I am trying to look towards the Hundred. I might not bowl, obviously, but it’s a little target I’ve got. And it’s actually coming out quite nicely, so we’ll see what happens.”

Brook said that England’s unlikely win, after needing 71 from the last four overs, would have a galvanising effect on the squad. He also hailed Phil Salt for his approach during his undefeated 109.

“We can take a lot of confidence from that win,” he said. “It’s a pretty good feeling. Hopefully I can do it plenty more times in my career. After the start we’ve had in this series as well, it’s really nice.

“We spoke about that actually the other day after the game – trying to play with personality and go out there and show what you can do. Salty’s done that beautifully.

“We had it against Pakistan before the last T20 World Cup where we needed to win two or three of the last games and we just tried to play them all like finals. So I guess we’ve got to do that for the rest of this series.”

Brook said that the enormity of England’s task, facing a target of 223 to stay in the series, had simplified the side’s approach.

“We had so much clarity. The boys had so much clarity going out to bat there and the way that they started was phenomenal.

“It’s probably better in that situation to be honest because you know you’ve got to go out there and you’ve got to go at 11 an over from ball one.”

When Brook walked out to bat, England still required 37 from their last 13 deliveries. He immediately received a slower ball from Jason Holder, which he launched for a straight six, setting Brook on course for his scintillating cameo.

“I’m just trying to be as cool as I can,” he explained. “I’m just trying to be free-flowing. As soon as i get tensed up in, in any format of cricket I’m playing, I’m never as good. So I’ve just got to try and stay as relaxed as possible and try to let the bat do the talking.”

But Brook admitted that England are still struggling to work out how to combat West Indies’s big hitters. Across the opening three T20s, West Indies have now hit 43 sixes – an average of 14 a game. Despite England’s victory in Grenada, the visitors have hit 32 so far.

“If you miss your yorker or you’re slightly too full or short with you’re slower ball, it’s gone,” Brook said. “Their mishits are going for six and they’re definitely a very strong side going into the World Cup as well.

“With the depth they’ve got, they can just keep on going and going until the end. And they’ve got so much power and experience as well, they’re not just going out and trying to slog straight away. They do play situations really well.”

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