Harry Brook: It will be a privilege to be appointed England Test captain

By SABC Sport
1st July 2026

Harry Brook says it would be a privilege if he were to succeed Ben Stokes as England Test captain, and insists it is possible to lead his country in all three formats.

Brook is currently England's skipper in white-ball cricket and was Stokes' deputy in Tests but was still overlooked for the leadership role when the former captain was suspended for the second Test against New Zealand.

Joe Root was given the role on an interim basis with ECB managing director Rob Key saying at the time that it was the best for Brook to solely focus on cricket.

Following his retirement, Stokes has given Brook his full support to take as Test captain and the 27-year-old has no doubt what he would if he were offered the role.

"Look, it would be a great honour to do it," said Brook. "It'd be a privilege to do it, to captain England in the highest format of our game, and the pinnacle.

"Playing Test cricket is the greatest thing that I've ever done in my life, and it's a dream, and something that I've always wanted to do since I could speak.

"It's not up to me, that decision, but if I got offered it, then I'd be happy to take it."

It has been reported that the ECB are reluctant to have one captain in all three formats due to workload management but Brook insists he can do it.

Brook will lead England in the five-match T20I series against India that starts in Durham on Wednesday.

He said: "I'm not saying it would be easy, but I definitely do think it is possible. The fact I don't play franchise cricket means there are periods in my calendar when I wouldn't be playing cricket.

"I'd be focussing on my fitness and getting ready to play all three formats, which has been a dream of mine since I could speak or walk. If I am or I'm not captain for England in Test cricket, I'd happy to just still be playing for England.

"I've committed completely to England cricket. I've said that I don't want to play any franchise cricket barring the Hundred, and everything that I want to do is to play cricket for England, and whatever I do, on and off the field, is to try and perform as well as I possibly can for England. Hence the reason I don't play in the IPL and PSL and all the other franchise competitions."