England batter Harry Brook has expressed that Joe Root deserved the Player of the Series award more than he did, despite scoring 481 runs in the five-Test series. Brook was named Player of the Series by India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir, but Brook insisted Root’s consistent performances made him the more deserving recipient. Root finished as England’s highest run-scorer with 537 runs at an average of 67, including a century at The Oval where both players made big scores.
Brook reflected on the final Test, saying he believed England were in a strong position while he and Root were batting together. He explained his approach was to score quickly and put pressure on the opposition, but after his dismissal, England collapsed and lost the match. Despite the disappointment, Brook said he was proud of his overall contribution to the series.
There are two Player of the Series awards in England, chosen by the opposing coaches. While Gambhir picked Brook, England’s coach Brendon McCullum named India captain Shubman Gill. Brook is now focusing on the upcoming white-ball season, including captaining Northern Superchargers in The Hundred and leading England in limited-overs matches against South Africa and Ireland.
