Agnew: Brook as talented as Gower and Pietersen, but not yet ready to captain England

Harry Brook scored 91 from 93 balls on day two of the first Test against Pakistan, batting with a composure that has often been missing during the past four years, particularly during England's Ashes defeat last winter. BBC Sport commentator Jonathan Agnew says this innings, free of the reckless shots that previously led to his downfall, could serve as a blueprint for the rest of Brook's Test career.

A rare talent

Agnew stresses that his past criticism of Brook was never personal, describing him as one of the rarest talents he has seen play for England, ranking alongside Kevin Pietersen and David Gower. He points to Brook's triple century against Pakistan in Multan as evidence of that talent, while also recalling costly dismissals in Australia, including in Perth and Brisbane.

The captaincy question

According to Agnew, it is no coincidence that this more mature innings came shortly after Brook was seriously considered, but ultimately overlooked, for the Test captaincy by managing director Rob Key and other England and Wales Cricket Board figures. While Brook has shown he can be an able tactician leading the white-ball side, Agnew believes he was not ready for the added responsibilities of the Test captaincy, which include representing the country and addressing difficult topics, as seen in past episodes involving Zimbabwe and Afghanistan.

As a result, Joe Root remained the only viable candidate, though his second stint as captain is unlikely to last beyond next year's Ashes series. Agnew believes Brook still has the chance to prove himself as the next candidate, though Jacob Bethell, also highly regarded as a leader, could emerge as a rival by then.

Team performance

Agnew also highlighted composed innings from Jordan Cox, who scored 73, and Root himself. He expressed hope that England retain the positivity of the previous Bazball era under Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes, but without the recklessness seen in recent times. He noted that Pakistan have fielded a weaker attack lacking pace, giving England a favourable opportunity to move to a 1-0 series lead.