"Harry Brook has the shots of Kevin Pietersen and the rhythm and hunger of Joe Root" - Nasser Hussain
Former England captain Nasser Hussain praised young sensation Harry Brook for his magnificent triple century in the opening Test against Pakistan at Multan. Hussain talked about how Brook is the perfect mix of two of England's all-time greats - Kevin Pietersen and Joe Root.
Having already established himself as one of the best young batters in world cricket, Brook took his stardom to the next level in the ongoing Test. He smashed a 322-ball 317 against a hapless Pakistan attack. The 25-year-old became only the sixth English batter to score a triple century in Tests and the first since Graham Gooch in 1990.
Brook's blistering knock propelled England to a massive 823/7 declared in their first-innings response to Pakistan's 556. Speaking to Sky Cricket at stumps on Day 4, Hussain hailed Brook for his incredible batting display.
"You get a run-a-ball fifty maybe in Test cricket, but a triple-hundred at virtually a run a ball is unheard of! It was a phenomenal knock. I saw a tweet actually and I quite agree with it: Harry Brook has the shots of Kevin Pietersen and the rhythm and hunger of Joe Root," said Hussain.
He added:
"If you named five of England's greatest ever players, Pietersen and Root would be in there. He has the 'flamingo' shot he plays like Pietersen, plus the Yorkshire grit of Root, and his tempo."
Brook also scored the second-fastest triple ton behind only Virender Sehwag, reaching the milestone off only 310 deliveries.
He shared an extraordinary 454-run stand for the fourth wicket with the side's best batter Joe Root.
"Joe said to me, 'One lad you have to look out for is Harry Brook'" - Nasser Hussain
Nasser Hussain recalled Joe Root pointing to Harry Brook as the next big thing in world cricket five years back during a T20 Blast game.
The youngster has made a sensational start to his Test career, averaging over 62 with six centuries in only 31 outings.
"I remember being at The Oval about five years ago and I was about to go up to Headingley for a [T20] Blast game, and Joe said to me, 'One lad you have to look out for is Harry Brook'. You can see what he saw in Brook. He is beautiful to watch. Brook would have grown up watching Root bat, and now he is out there breaking records with him."
Meanwhile, Brook's magnificent knock took England from a precarious position to one of strength, with a first-innings lead of 267 runs.
The visitors' bowling attack replicated the batters by reducing Pakistan to 152/6 in their second innings at stumps on Day 4 (October 10). The hosts still trail by 115 runs and will need to battle hard to avoid an innings defeat.