Cricket Feb 08, 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 Group C: England, Scotland, West Indies, Nepal and debutants Italy assessed

T20 World Cup Group C: England, Scotland, West Indies, Nepal and debutants Italy assessed

We look at the sides in Group C - England, Scotland, West Indies, Nepal and debutants Italy - for the T20 World Cup, which is live on Your Site from F...

The Ashes: Australia vs England, fifth Test: Updates and reaction from series finale at Sydney Cricket Ground

The Ashes: Australia vs England, fifth Test: Updates and reaction from series finale at Sydney Cricket Ground

Neville: Wins WON'T force Man United to appoint Carrick nowJacquet suffers serious shoulder injury after agreeing Liverpool moveLiverpools new su...

T20 World Cup: Suryakumar Yadav leads by example as he rescues India after huge scare against the USA

T20 World Cup: Suryakumar Yadav leads by example as he rescues India after huge scare against the USA

Suryakumar Yadav spared India's blushes with a superb unbeaten 84 from 49 balls as the co-hosts beat USA by 29 runs in their opening T20 World Cup mat...

T20 World Cup: Ireland collapse in loss to co-hosts Sri Lanka as they fall short in Colombo

T20 World Cup: Ireland collapse in loss to co-hosts Sri Lanka as they fall short in Colombo

Ireland slipped to a 20-run defeat against T20 World Cup co-hosts Sri Lanka in their Group B opener in Colombo.Having won the toss and opted to bowl,...

T20 World Cup: England complete 'ugly' win in Mumbai as fearless Nepal show they are not to be underestimated

T20 World Cup: England complete 'ugly' win in Mumbai as fearless Nepal show they are not to be underestimated

When Adil Rashid is getting mowed into the stands, you know you have a problem.England's leg-spinner, one of only six men to have taken 150 wickets or...

T20 World Cup: England beat Nepal in thriller as Sam Curran holds nerve in final over and Harry Brook's side avoid shock

T20 World Cup: England beat Nepal in thriller as Sam Curran holds nerve in final over and Harry Brook's side avoid shock

Two-time champions England dodged a huge shock at the T20 World Cup as they got their campaign under way with a nerve-jangling, four-run victory over...