Brook has scored 623 runs at a strike rate of 96.88 in just eight Test innings since coming into the side in place of an injured Jonny Bairstow
Michael Atherton believes England's selectors will have a "real problem" ahead of the Ashes following the rapid rise of Harry Brook.
The Yorkshire batter made a quiet Test debut against South Africa last September, scoring 12 runs, before announcing himself on the international red-ball stage with three centuries in three matches in Pakistan.
He backed up those performances with back-to-back half-centuries against New Zealand in Mount Maunganui and has now scored 623 runs at a strike rate of 96.88 in just eight Test innings.
Brook, whom Atherton labelled "undroppable", earned his opportunity in the Test side after Jonny Bairstow suffered a broken leg while playing golf at the back-end of the summer.
Head coach Brendon McCullum, however, is in "no doubt" that Bairstow, who scored 1,061 runs at 66.31 in 2022, will come straight back into the side when he returns to fitness, which presents England with a selection dilemma.
Brook came into the side after Jonny Bairstow suffered a broken leg [Gareth Copley/Getty Images]
"It's going to be a real problem for selectors when everybody's fit and available," Atherton told Sky Sports. "Jonny Bairstow is back to doing some light training; when he'll be ready for selection, who knows?
"But given the summer he had last year, how do you fit him into the team given how Harry Brook has gone in Bairstow's absence? Brook is undroppable really.
"He's had an incredible start to his Test career and he's one of the best young players in the world so he has to play [in the Ashes].
"The bowling will take care of itself a little bit more because they've got five Tests against Australia in the best part of two months. All the fast bowlers are not going to play in every one of those games. It's inconceivable that [James] Anderson could play five Test matches in eight weeks, it's probably the same for [Stuart] Broad and for the fast bowlers like [Jofra] Archer and [Mark] Wood.
"It's going to be less of a problem for the bowling, you want as many bowlers as possible to have fit and ready for selection. But the batting, unless there's an injury between now and then, is more problematic."
Posted by David williams on 21/02/2023 at 13:42
Agree with some of comments below Crawley out.. Bairstow to open.. Foakes to keep wicket and bat at 7/8 Not only is Crawley not scoring enough runs but he keeps dropping slip catches.. we can’t afford those in the Ashes
Posted by John Swan on 21/02/2023 at 07:56
I agree that Crawley, more consistent as he is now, is probably still the weakest link. But I'm not sure about opening with YJB. I'm not convinced that his technique will stand up to the ruthless examination he'll get opening in a Test Match against Cummins and Starc with a new ball. If that's the only place to fit him in, we might have to accept quite a few low scores for the times he comes off.
Posted by GARY SWIRES on 20/02/2023 at 20:00
Chances are that Bairstow after such a bad break wouldn’t be able to keep wicket for quite some time if at all and Foakes is playing very well so that leaves Crawley having to drop out and open with Bairstow opening or move Pope up to open and Bairstow at 3 .
Posted by Gary Gibbins on 20/02/2023 at 16:45
After such a serious injury (leg broken in 3 places and dislocated ankle) there could possibly be a question mark about Bairstow getting back to where he was anytime soon. If he does come back for me it's Crawley to be left out and Pope moving up to open. Brook would be fine at number 3
Posted by Peter Roe on 20/02/2023 at 09:58
Barston back in yes ..but let's not go down the well worn path of dropping the wicket keeper to 'make way for another batter' ! Pick people on merit.
Posted by Graham Landon on 20/02/2023 at 07:29
Why is the batting problematic? Brook is the man in possession, drop Crawley, bring in Bairstow to open. Simple
Posted by P Wilkinson on 20/02/2023 at 02:37
I agree with Harry cannot be dropped he deserves to play in the ashes
Posted by Mark Hayward on 19/02/2023 at 17:44
The tried and tested method used by England selectors faced with the problem Mike Atherton identifies has always been to drop a wicketkeeper who bats for a batsman who keeps wicket. They could do the same here by dropping Foakes to accommodate Bairstow's return. I hope they don't though. I would drop Crawley and bring Bairstow back in the opener's slot. He has experience there. Crawley fails far too often to justify a place at the top of the order
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