Harry Brook has a complete game which will set him up perfectly for the rigours of international cricket, says his Northern Superchargers’ captain Faf du Plessis.
Brook is currently mixing Hundred duty – under the ex-South Africa captain’s stewardship – with a four-day appearance for the England Lions against the touring Proteas, which starts at Canterbury tomorrow.
The Yorkshire star continued his mesmerising summer with a match-clinching 33 not out for the Superchargers in Friday’s opener against Manchester Originals at Emirates Old Trafford.
In pursuit of 162, the game was firmly in the balance before Brook hit two late sixes to see the Headingley based side home by six wickets with as many balls to spare.
It was a performance which led to du Plessis, a man with over 250 international appearances under his belt, waxing lyrical about the 23-year-old’s capabilities.
“Brooky’s got that complete game and scores all around the ground,” he said.
“He’s like a young version of a Jos Buttler or an AB De Villiers who has that all-round game. I really do rate him highly.
“You always judge it on composure. A lot of players have the skill, but a lot of international cricket is about what’s going on upstairs. He’s got that calm, way beyond his years thing going on.
“He’s a fantastic guy. Last year I saw him and I was raving about him then.
“The way I would sum him up is that there are a lot of good top three players in the world. But he falls in that class of a number four or five who comes in and you don’t bowl dots at him.”
In 25 competitive matches this summer, for all teams – Yorkshire, the Superchargers and England’s T20 side – Brook has scored 1,491 runs with 10 fifties and four centuries.
Because of Lions duty, Brook will miss the Superchargers’ home clash with Trent Rockets at Headingley tomorrow (6.30pm) and Thursday afternoon’s trip to the Kia Oval to face the Oval Invincibles.
He has already played four T20 internationals this year, with a top score of 28, but he is yet to make his Test debut despite being in every squad named by new coach Brendon McCullum.
