Cricket Feb 11, 2026

Harry Brook: England captain to learn after 'horrendous' period as he prepares for T20 World Cup with team named to face Nepal

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Harry Brook: England captain to learn after 'horrendous' period as he prepares for T20 World Cup with team named to face Nepal

Harry Brook wants to move on from a "pretty horrendous" few weeks as he prepares to captain England at the T20 World Cup.

Brook was punched by a bouncer after heading out the night before a one-day international in New Zealand last autumn, with his indiscretion revealed publicly on the final day of England's 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia in January.

The 26-year-old - who was fined £30,000 and given a final warning about his conduct by the ECB - initially said he was alone during that scuffle in Wellington but later admitted he lied in order to "protect team-mates".

The Daily Telegraph reported that Jacob Bethell and Josh Tongue were also present on the night in question and are also being investigated by the Cricket Regulator.

Speaking publicly for the first time since the latest development, and on the eve of England's T20 World Cup opener against Nepal on Sunday (9.30am UK, live on Sky Sports), Brook said: "It has been pretty horrendous. It's not been a very nice time of my life.

"All I do is hit a ball with a bat and that's what I want to carry on doing for the rest of my career. I obviously made a mistake. I've got to try and put that behind me and focus on what's more important.

"I've definitely learned there's a hell of a lot more responsibility on your shoulders when you're captain. When you're a leader, you can't take that responsibility lightly. You've got to be on virtually all the time."

Brook struck a 57-ball ODI hundred during a 2-1 series win in Sri Lanka and then cracked a 12-ball 36 in the second game of the 3-0 T20 sweep that followed against the same opposition, with the Yorkshireman adding: "It's weird, as a professional sportsman, when you get out to the wicket, and you're a batter, everything just seems to float away.

"All you're focusing on is that cricket ball. Even when the crowds are massive, sometimes you don't even realise that there's any noise when you're batting, so, luckily, I got into that bubble, and I managed to bat fairly well."

England have named their XI to face Nepal, with Phil Salt shaking off the back spasm that ruled him out of the final T20 in Sri Lanka on Tuesday and fit to open the batting alongside Jos Buttler.

Tom Banton has earned the nod over fellow batter Ben Duckett in the middle order, while left-arm seamer Luke Wood has been preferred to all-rounder Jamie Overton and frontline spinners Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson are backed up by Bethell and Will Jacks.

Brook added: "You look at India's side, they're one of the best sides to play T20 cricket at the minute, and they've got about five spinners, so why don't we have a little bit of a crack at that as well?

"We're not copying them. It's more they have a hell of a lot more options than most of the countries.

"We feel like we're in a really good space selection wise."

All times UK and Ireland; all games live on Your Site

Watch the Men's T20 World Cup live on Your Site from February 7 to March 8. or

Tags:

cricket news

Share this article

Related Posts

T20 World Cup: South Africa hammer India by 76 runs as tournament hosts' T20 World Cup win streak is snapped

T20 World Cup: South Africa hammer India by 76 runs as tournament hosts' T20 World Cup win streak is snapped

India suffered their first loss in 13 T20 World Cup games after a disappointing 76-run drubbing to South Africa in their opening game of the Super 8s...

T20 World Cup: West Indies score record 254 runs and thrash Zimbabwe by 107 as Musekiwa drops twice

T20 World Cup: West Indies score record 254 runs and thrash Zimbabwe by 107 as Musekiwa drops twice

West Indies posted the second highest total in T20 World Cup history and thrashed Zimbabwe by 107 runs in the Super Eights on Monday.  West Indies fin...

Men's T20 World Cup 2026 fixtures and results: England, India, Pakistan, South Africa, West Indies and more

Men's T20 World Cup 2026 fixtures and results: England, India, Pakistan, South Africa, West Indies and more

Results and fixtures for the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup, which is live in full on Your Site between February 7 and March 8.All times UK and IrelandSatur...

Italy cricket: Senior official suspended and investigated after sexual assault allegation

Italy cricket: Senior official suspended and investigated after sexual assault allegation

A senior official in Italy's cricket federation has been investigated and suspended over a sexual assault allegation.Federazione Cricket Italiana (FCR...

T20 World Cup: England start Super 8s campaign with victory as Sri Lanka implode chasing 147 in Pallekele

T20 World Cup: England start Super 8s campaign with victory as Sri Lanka implode chasing 147 in Pallekele

England fought back with the ball following a limp effort with the bat as they began their T20 World Cup Super 8s campaign with a 51-run victory over...

T20 World Cup: West Indies score record 254 runs and thrash Zimbabwe by 107 as Musekiwa drops twice

T20 World Cup: West Indies score record 254 runs and thrash Zimbabwe by 107 as Musekiwa drops twice

West Indies posted the second highest total in T20 World Cup history and thrashed Zimbabwe by 107 runs in the Super Eights on Monday.  West Indies fin...