In the first T20I against Sri Lanka, Harry Brook hit an unbeaten 114 off just 49 balls, and England’s skipper Ben Stokes had one query for those who questioned him: “Even KP couldn’t come close.”.
Stokes used X to heap praise on Brook, the 27-year-old batter who has become the engine of England’s white-ball side. It was Brook’s innings that helped England post 254/4, after which England bowled Sri Lanka out for 135 in 19 overs to win by 119 runs. Brook struck 10 fours and six sixes at a strike rate of 232.65.
Stokes did not mean any insult when he compared Brook to Kevin Pietersen. The remark came from an English teammate who has shared the pitch with Brook, and it holds real weight because Stokes understands exactly what he is saying.
Stokes’ Post on X
Stokes’ message was direct. He wrote that “I don’t even think the genius of KP could come close to what Harry Brook has talent-wise.” He then turned to the critics who have questioned Brook’s approach to the game.
He questioned why audiences struggle to sit back and admire what Brook does, whether on good days or bad. His argument was that the criticism originates from a level that simply cannot comprehend what Brook does.
“You are an absolute freak, Harry.”
“You’re mint to watch.”
Later, Stokes stepped in to clear up any confusion about his earlier comparison, which had drawn attention. He explained that it was not intended as a slight toward Pietersen, writing that “Bit harsh on KP actually both are freak talents but Brook better IMO is my point.”
What mattered was the explanation. The original post was not an attack on a former England star. Instead, it was a statement about what Brook can achieve, set against one of the best batters England has ever produced.
Brook’s Numbers at No. 3
Brook’s latest innings came at No. 3 in the T20I order, a position he took on after an indifferent campaign at this year’s T20 World Cup. Since the move, the results have been immediate.
Brook has scored 476 runs in eight T20I innings at No. 3, averaging 95.20 with a strike rate of 200.84. Two of those innings ended in centuries, while two more reached fifty.
Brook’s most recent century brought him alongside Jos Buttler as the second Englishman to hit double figures in all three international formats. He now owns two T20I centuries, 10 Test hundreds and three ODI tons. Buttler remains the other England player who has done it, carrying two Test centuries, 11 ODI hundreds and two T20I tons.
A roster of athletes who have reached a century or more runs in each format is provided.
- India’s Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul
- Pakistan’s Babar Azam
- West Indies great Chris Gayle
- New Zealand’s Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill
- South Africa’s Quinton de Kock
His most recent century came in T20 Internationals, and it marked his second such score in that format. Across 69 appearances for England, Brook has accumulated 1,646 runs across 60 innings, averaging 36.57 with a strike rate of 164.10, and has notched two centuries alongside eight half-centuries.
The Match in Southampton
England dominated the first T20I, and their innings was the centerpiece of their display. Brook started things off with an aggressive attack, while Jos Buttler offered the ideal accompaniment, scoring 80 off 44 balls with eight fours and three sixes.
The two players worked together to drive England’s total to 254/4, and Sri Lanka never seriously threatened to chase it down.
Four overs saw Sonny Baker lead England’s attack with 3/12, while Jamie Overton returned 2/20 and Liam Dawson took 2/23. The total was eventually dismissed for 135 in the 19th over.
What Stokes Actually Said
Stokes’ reference to Pietersen was the headline, yet the setting behind it is important. He was answering a history of criticism that has dogged Brook from the start of his career.
He wanted to remind people what Brook can do, and he chose Pietersen as the yardstick because he knows the game inside out. The “genius of KP” is a phrase that describes Pietersen’s reputation, and Stokes is saying that Brook’s talent exceeds it.
In the second half of his post, he turned his attention toward the critics, asking why it is so difficult for people to simply sit back and take in what Brook accomplishes, whether on good days or bad.
Stokes spoke warmly of Brook, describing him as “an absolute freak” and pointing out that he is “mint to watch.”
The Numbers Back Up the Praise
The numbers Brook has posted at No. 3 are extraordinary: eight innings, 476 runs, an average of 95.20, a strike rate of 200.84. He has also compiled two centuries and two fifties, which shows the kind of consistent performance that marks a top-order batter.
That strike rate stands out as truly remarkable. 200.84 is elite territory in T20 cricket, and only the very best can keep up that pace across eight innings.
A remarkable return is what two centuries in eight innings at No. 3 amounts to.
The Broader Context
Scoring centuries across all three formats is a rare accomplishment, and Brook has achieved it. The number of players who have managed this feat is small and distinguished.
India’s Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul are on it, along with Pakistan’s Babar Azam. Chris Gayle, the West Indies great, is there, as are New Zealand’s Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill. South Africa’s Quinton de Kock completes the group.
Brook has now joined Buttler on the list, with the Englishman adding his name alongside his compatriot’s. The former holds two T20I centuries, 10 Test hundreds and three ODI tons to his name, while the latter boasts two Test centuries, 11 ODI hundreds and two T20I tons.
Stokes is drawing a direct parallel between Brook and Pietersen, and he fully understands the implications of what he is saying. The comparison is not made lightly, nor is it between two players who have never met on the field. Instead, it pits Brook against a teammate, a friend and a colleague who shares the same profession and knows precisely what it requires to triumph at the very top of the game.
The Point Stokes Was Making
The post from Stokes went beyond Brook himself. It addressed the broader culture of how sports are criticized. Stokes is pushing for appreciation of what Brook brings to the game, instead of questioning how he goes about it.
The “freak” label is a compliment, not a dismissal. It acknowledges that Brook operates on a different level. The “mint to watch” line is a reminder that Brook is fun to follow, even when things do not go his way.
Stokes wanted to make sure his comparison was not read as a slight on a former England star. He wanted to clarify that both men are freak talents, but Brook is better. It was a small detail, but an important one.
The Match in Numbers
The innings itself was a masterclass. 114 runs off 49 balls, 10 fours, six sixes, a strike rate of 232.65. Those numbers are not theoretical. They belong to a batter who has proven himself in the most pressure-filled moments.
Buttler’s partnership stood out. The pair put together 80 off 44 balls, with eight fours and three sixes scored along the way. That combination carried England to a score Sri Lanka could not reach.
Sri Lanka’s run-chase never found any momentum. Sonny Baker led the bowling effort with 3/12 from his four allotted overs. Jamie Overton added 2/20, while Liam Dawson claimed 2/23. The Sri Lankan innings ended with the team dismissed for 135 in the 19th over.
England won by 119 runs, and Brook’s innings was the difference.
There is no disputing Brook’s talent. It shows up in the statistics, in his play and in the way others measure him against his peers. That his own leader has felt compelled to speak up for him against those who doubt him speaks to just how skilled he truly is.
It is a compliment, not a slight, to compare Brook to Pietersen. The remark speaks to what Brook can do, and it comes from someone who has played alongside him for England.
Brook’s talent is plain for all to see, according to Stokes’ post, which urges fans to take a step back and simply appreciate what he brings to the game. The only uncertainty is whether viewers will actually bother to notice it.
The answer, based on the innings in Southampton, is yes.
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