Tom Kohler-Cadmore has hailed Harry Brook’s stunning form, saying: “The way he’s playing, I don’t think there’s anyone hitting the ball better in the world.”
Kohler-Cadmore and Brook shared a fourth-wicket 115 in last night’s Roses Vitality Blast tie against Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford, a Yorkshire record for that wicket in T20 cricket.
Kohler-Cadmore made an excellent 67 and Brook 72.
Brook, aged 23, went beyond 50 for the 10th time in 11 innings this summer, including County Championship cricket, and took his tally of runs to 972.
He has been called up to England’s squad for next week’s first Test of the summer against New Zealand at Lord’s, though the strong suggestion is that – remarkably – he won’t play.
Before leaving for national duty, the Burley-in-Wharfedale star will face Leicestershire in tomorrow’s Blast clash at Headingley (3pm), when he needs to score 28 to score reach 1,000 runs for Yorkshire in 2022.
“It’s a joy to watch Brooky at the minute,” continued Kohler-Cadmore.
“If I was picking the first Test team, he’d be in it. And if you’ve not got him playing, then you’ve certainly got a strong side. He’s playing incredibly well.
“When you’ve got someone as good as him at the other end, you know you’re always in the game.”
Both sides will reflect on last night’s tie, in which Lancashire made 183-7 and Yorkshire 183-5, with what ifs. But Kohler-Cadmore preferred to concentrate on the positives.
“It ebbed and flowed and both sides played some amazing cricket,” he said. “Our chasing record in the past hasn’t been great. Two or three years ago, we’d have probably fallen 20 short. As a team, we’re learning quickly.”
Last night was only Kohler-Cadmore’s second game of the season for Yorkshire after battling back from a nasty concussion injury which he suffered whilst on duty in the Pakistan Super League with Peshawar Zalmi in February. His first was Wednesday’s Blast opener against Worcestershire.
He was struck on the helmet in the nets by a short ball from Worcestershire’s Pat Brown, with one onlooking team-mate describing it as an “innocuous” incident.
“I played two games afterwards and didn’t realise,” said Kohler-Cadmore.
“But, after the second game, I felt a bit foggy. Still, it wasn’t horrendous. But I’d hit a ball in the nets and be foggy again, a bit lost and get headaches.
“It’s been tough, but it’s part of sport isn’t it.
“Normal injuries, you get a timeframe and are told when you’re there and thereabouts for returning. ‘You’ve got four weeks’ or whatever.
“With concussion, there’s nothing to say that it won’t come back. It’s something I have to keep an eye on. But the longer it gets away from the incident, the better.”
“That game (Lancashire) was a good test. I spent a lot of time in the middle, had to do a lot of running, there was a big atmosphere. There was a lot of stimulation. But I’m sure I’ll pull up fine and will be ready and raring to go again against Leicester.”
On his recovery plan, he added: “Every time, there’s been a check point.
“I’d start off at 100 heart-rate on the bike for 10 minutes. That’s like a walk. If I was symptom free, I’d get a tick. If not, I’d have to wait until they go and start again.
“I went up one day at a time, which is why it’s taken so long.
“Then, after getting up to 180 heart-rate, I started batting. And the first one was 30 underarms. That was it for the day.
“It was a harsh thing because I’d been told not to do any exercise and not strain my brain as well.
“If you have a core injury, you can do whatever – watch loads of movies. I couldn’t do that.
“It has been frustrating, but it was brilliant to be back out there and scoring runs in a big game. Hopefully that continues.”
Leicestershire lost their opening fixture against Durham at Grace Road on Thursday and are also hosting Derbyshire this afternoon.
Captained by Dutch international batter Colin Ackermann, they have signed New Zealand opener Hamish Rutherford and Afghanistan seamer Naveen-ul-Haq as their overseas players.
This game is the second part of a T20 double header with the Northern Diamonds women, who face cross-Pennine rivals Thunder in a must win Charlotte Edwards Cup clash at 11am.
