Sports
Ben Stokes Praises Harry Brook’s T20I Brilliance, Compares Him to Kevin Pietersen
Ben Stokes praised Harry Brook after the England white‑ball captain produced a stunning T20I innings against Sri Lanka, suggesting the young batter’s talent surpasses that of Kevin Pietersen. Brook scored an unbeaten 114 off 49 balls in the first T20I in Southampton, hitting 10 fours and six sixes at a strike rate of 232.65. His performance helped England post 254/4 before bowling Sri Lanka out for 135 in 19 overs, winning by 119 runs.
Stokes, who has played alongside Brook for England, posted on X: “I don’t even think the genius of KP could come close to what Harry Brook has talent-wise. Is it really that hard to just sit back and admire these players for what they are, on the good days and the bad days, and stop berating them for doing things that we would never, ever, ever even think of doing because we simply aren’t on their level to think that way? You are an absolute freak, Harry. You’re mint to watch.” He later clarified that his comparison was not intended as a slight on Pietersen, writing, “Bit harsh on KP actually both are freak talents but Brook better IMO is my point.”
Brook’s move to No. 3 in the T20I format has coincided with a remarkable run. In eight innings at that position, he has accumulated 476 runs at an average of 95.20 and a strike rate of 200.84, with two centuries and two fifties. His latest hundred also made him the second Englishman, after Jos Buttler, to score multiple centuries in all three international formats. Brook now has two T20I centuries, 10 Test hundreds and three ODI tons; Buttler has two Test centuries, 11 ODI hundreds and two T20I tons.
Brook’s latest hundred was his second in T20Is. In 69 matches for England, he has scored 1,646 runs in 60 innings at an average of 36.57 and a strike rate of 164.10, with two centuries and eight fifties.
During the match against Sri Lanka, Brook was central to England’s dominant batting display. Jos Buttler supported him with 80 off 44 balls, including eight fours and three sixes, as the pair powered England to 254/4. Sri Lanka never posed a serious chase. England’s bowlers were led by Sonny Baker, who took 3/12 from four overs, while Jamie Overton returned 2/20 and Liam Dawson took 2/23. Sri Lanka were dismissed for 135 in the 19th over.