CHRISTCHURCH: England’s experienced batter Joe Root on Monday, showered praise on in-form teammate Harry Brook and termed him the best player in the world currently.
Root, while addressing a press conference following England’s thumping 323-run victory over New Zealand in the second Test, lauded player of the match Brook, who has scored two centuries and a fifty over the course of just three innings in the ongoing series.
The top-ranked Test batter backed his statement by highlighting Brook’s ability to not only absorb but to exert the pressure and his prowess against both spin and fast bowling.
"Brooky (Harry Brook) is by far and away the best player in the world at the minute. He can absorb pressure, he can apply it. He can whack you over your head for six. He can scoop you over his head for six. He can smack spin. He can smack seam," Root said.
"He's so hard to bowl to and dovetailed with someone like Pope, who's extremely busy and scoring in awkward areas, [which] makes it very difficult to stop the flow of runs. I think they just played exceptionally well together," he added.
In response to the praise, Brook humbly acknowledged it and reciprocated the compliment to Root, who has amassed the most Test runs in 2024.
“I’m trying to catch him, but he’s too good, isn’t he?” Brook said.
“He’s got another hundred this week and he’s obviously one of the best players, if not the best player, to have ever played the game. It’s mega to play with him and he’s awesome to watch.
“I’ve only played 22 or 23 games, whatever, so those stats can soon come soaring down. I’m just trying to keep on getting as good as I can, working hard in the nets and improving areas that are uncomfortable. You can always get better everywhere.”
- Joe Root
- Harry Brook
