Harry Brook scored 114 not out from 49 balls in England’s 119-run win over Sri Lanka in the first T20, and Ben Stokes has ranked him above Kevin Pietersen for raw talent. The innings included 30 runs off one over, hit through the middle of the ground, and it drew a bold statement from Stokes, who no longer plays for England.
Stokes wrote on social media that Brook’s natural ability exceeds Pietersen’s. “I don’t even think the genius of KP could come close to what Brook has talent-wise,” he posted. “You are an absolute freak, Harry. You’re mint to watch.”
He later added: “Bit harsh on KP actually. Both are freak talents but Brook is better in my opinion.”
The comparison comes as England prepare for their second T20 against Sri Lanka on Thursday in Cardiff, with 6.30pm first ball.
Brook’s innings against Sri Lanka
Brook’s knock in Southampton was swashbuckling. He hit 10 fours and six sixes, including six boundaries in one over off Dunith Wellalage. His 42-ball hundred was England’s second-fastest in T20 Internationals.
Pietersen was in the crowd, having joined head coach Brendon McCullum’s white-ball setup as a mentor up to the 50-over World Cup in South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe in late 2027. The innings prompted Stokes to post his assessment.
Brook’s last century in any format came in February, during a World Cup T20 match against Pakistan in Pallekele. That makes this innings his first century in international cricket since then.
What Stokes said about Brook
Stokes struck a half-century for Durham against Worcestershire in the County Championship on the same day he posted about Brook. His posts were direct about the comparison.
“I don’t even think the genius of KP could come close to what Brook has talent-wise,” he wrote. Then he added: “Bit harsh on KP actually. Both are freak talents but Brook is better in my opinion.”
The vote below asks readers to choose between the two.
Pietersen’s role with England
Pietersen has joined the white-ball coaching team as a mentor. He will work with the squad up to the 50-over World Cup in late 2027, covering South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
Brook spoke warmly about working with his former hero. “He looked at batting slightly differently, in a similar way to me as well,” he said. “He always wants to put the bowlers under pressure.”
“He was a phenomenal player. The way he accessed different areas of the ground made it really tricky to captain and bowl to, and I’m looking forward to conversations about that.”
“I mentioned to him earlier about trying to help me read surfaces and using my skills to perform on that pitch as well, not just for white-ball cricket, Test cricket as well.”
“Hopefully he can have a big impact on my career. He’s a hero to a lot of players. We grew up watching him and it’s just awesome to have a man of his calibre in the changing room.”
The run comparison
Brook has over 6,500 international runs since debuting in 2022. Pietersen amassed almost 14,000 international runs between 2004 and 2014, a number he was prevented from adding to after a fallout with the ECB ended his England career.
Brook, at 27, could have over a decade left. He hopes to use Pietersen’s expertise to become even better.
Morgan’s praise for Brook
Sky Sports’ Eoin Morgan has been effusive about Brook’s all-format abilities. “I think Harry is one of our very best,” he said. “It is difficult to find a player of recent generations that has Brook’s ability.”
“He is coming into his peak years, yet we are seeing absolute genius time and time again in all formats of the game.”
Kumar Sangakkara agreed. “He reads length so quickly. He is very light and nimble on his feet. He has oodles of time and devastating power,” he said.
“Then against the pace there is the scoop and reverse paddle or punch down the ground for six. He has everything.”
Brook has been more responsible in red-ball cricket recently. He has five fifties across the summer in Test cricket, batting far more responsibly than earlier in his career.
What comes next for England
England play the second T20 against Sri Lanka in Cardiff on Thursday, with 6.30pm first ball. The series continues with a third T20 at Old Trafford on Saturday, followed by three ODIs in September.
The vote below asks readers to choose between Brook and Pietersen for most talented.
Key facts
- Brook scored 114 not out from 49 balls, including 30 runs off one over
- His innings was England’s second-fastest century in T20 Internationals
- Pietersen has joined as a mentor for the white-ball setup up to the 50-over World Cup
- Brook has over 6,500 international runs since debuting in 2022
- Pietersen amassed almost 14,000 international runs between 2004 and 2014
The comparison is bold, and it is backed by the numbers. Brook is closing on Pietersen’s run tally despite a shorter career. The question of which player is more talented remains open, but Stokes has answered it firmly.
See the video the story is built around at Skysports.
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