“It would be a great honour” – Brook on being made England Test captain

Harry Brook has stated that he would accept the England Test captaincy if offered and believes leading England across formats is possible. 

He called captaining England “a privilege” and a “great honour”. Brook made his position known following Ben Stokes’ retirement, while adding that the final decision is for selectors and management, not him. 

He also stressed that Test captaincy is the pinnacle of the game and that he has long wanted the opportunity to lead his country at the highest level. In his words: “It would be a great honour to captain England at Test level. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do.

“The decision isn’t up to me, but if it was offered to me, I’d be happy to take it. I think it would be a tough job, but everything’s tough in cricket. It’s a hard sport.

Brook already holds white-ball captaincy for England and has experience as Test vice-captain, which are important stats to consider when assessing his readiness to step into the Test role full-time. 

Stokes has also publicly backed Brook as a potential successor, and England coach Brendon McCullum has been involved in conversations about the leadership transition. All these are signs of internal support for a smooth handover process.

One of the factors that stands in his way is age, as critics think Brook is still young for a long-term Test captaincy assignment and that selectors will weigh experience and team balance ahead of any formal offer. 

Still, Brook’s recent performances with the bat and his existing leadership roles in limited-overs cricket have strengthened his case among fans and pundits who believe he can manage the pressures of leading England across formats.

If appointed, Brook would inherit an England side coming off a sudden leadership change. His approach, which has been described in profiles as “energetic” and “positive”, would shape the team’s direction in Tests as he strives to balance on-field responsibilities with the wider demands of modern international scheduling.