Many of Brendon McCullum’s decisions were panned as England tumbled to a largely self-inflicted 4-1 Ashes defeat this winter – but his latest call reaped rewards.
The head coach told white-ball captain Harry Brook that he was going to promote him to No 3 for the T20 World Cup game against Pakistan and Brook proceeded to crack a 50-ball century in a two-wicket win that took the team into the semi-finals.
“Baz [McCullum] was the mastermind there,” Brook said. “He had the discussion with me this morning about going up the order and trying to maximise the powerplay. Thankfully, it paid off.”
In truth, though, the skipper coming in at first drop was hardly an out-there move.
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England captain Brook says he has been keen to move up the order for a while
It was what former England all-rounder Moeen Ali had suggested should happen before the game, with Brook having batted exclusively at No 5 in T20Is in 2026 to that point.
And it was, as we found out after the match when Brook spoke to Sky Sports’ Michael Atherton at the presentation, what the man himself wanted. “I have been thinking about it for while,” he revealed.
It just appeared a common-sense decision all round.
Get your best player in a position where he can face a substantial number of deliveries, especially with the guy who has been your best player for years – Jos Buttler – really toiling at the top of the order and the finishing role Brook had previously been earmarked for being performed admirably by Will Jacks.
‘Whenever we lose against England, it’s always Brook’
Brook was into the game second ball in Pallekele on Tuesday after Buttler’s opening partner Phil Salt snicked off for a golden duck.
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Full highlights at England beat Pakistan by two wickets to reach the T20 World Cup semi-finals
The captain was quickly into his work after getting off the mark second delivery, clipping and pulling paceman Salman Mirza for four and six respectively in the second over before mullering spinners Saim Ayub, Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan after that.
Brook’s strokes, some of them breathtaking, were based on decisive footwork, skipping to the pitch of certain deliveries but also moving deep into his crease before hauling shorter ones into the stands. The Yorkshireman’s picking of length was impeccable.
It was an innings of intelligence as well as impudence, including his slick running between the wickets as he used the vast outfield to turn ones in to twos around his 10 fours and four sixes.
Brook completed a first T20I hundred with a lofted drive for four off Shaheen Shah Afridi, having backed away to leg the previous ball to cream a sublime six over extra-cover.
The batter departed one ball after reaching three figures, out to a Shaheen slower ball, but earned a handshake from the bowler having punished Pakistan in yet another match.
Brook’s promotion in the first place had been with Pakistan in mind – an opposition against whom he averages 84.10 in Test cricket after four centuries and a fifty in six matches including a best of 317, and now 62.66 in T20 internationals after this dashing ton.
“Whenever we play against England and we lose, it’s always Brook,” lamented Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha post-match.
‘Unreal, ridiculous’ special – Brook lauded after stunning ton
Moeen and Jacks were among those to laud Brook as England toasted a sixth straight T20 win over Pakistan and safe passage into the knockout stages of this World Cup.
Jacks, who shared a stand of 52 from 31 balls with Brook for the fifth wicket said: “That was a special knock. He had the extra responsibility and got a hundred straight away.
“Shaheen was swinging the ball up top and we know the quality of their spinners but he made it look very easy. He led from the front
“He is our best batter and should face as many balls as possible. He faced 20 in the powerplay and was in the flow when spin came on. He hasn’t just slogged. He scored at a strike rate of 200 but it didn’t feel like he chased the game at all. That’s the skill.”
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Moeen Ali breaks down Brook’s innings and what he could achieve batting higher up the order on a regular basis
Moeen added: “When Brook plays like that, he is so good. There are not many better. It was an unbelievable knock, outstanding, and if he bats at No 3 in T20s, he will score 130s, 150s.
“He plays spin better after facing seam early on and just puts pressure on bowlers. He hits good balls for fours and sixes. Some of the shots against spin were unbelievable.
“The best way to get your message across [about being brave] is playing like this. I liked his game awareness as well, that was the most impressive thing. His energy running between the wickets.
“Body language is a small thing but so important in T20 cricket and the way he was on… he was like a man possessed. His running, his shot, his shot selection was unreal.”
Harry Brook – England captain, England match-winner and, surely, now England’s permanent T20 No 3.
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