Harry Brook on missing out on England Test captaincy and the Wellington incident: ‘The decision to make Root captain was the right one’

Harry Brook says he does not know whether the Wellington incident ahead of the Ashes cost him the England captaincy, but believes appointing Joe Root was the “right decision”.

The 26-year-old was made white-ball captain last April and promoted to vice-captain of the Test team in September.

However, it emerged in January that Brook had been struck by a bouncer the night before the third ODI in Wellington on November 1, after he was refused entry to a club.

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Brook was issued with a final warning and fined approximately £30,000.

"I want to apologise for my actions. I fully accept that my behaviour was wrong and brought embarrassment to both myself and the England team," he said in a statement.

Brook has since continued as vice-captain, but following Ben Stokes' departure, England opted to turn to Root to lead the Test side once again rather than promote their second-in-command.

While many have attributed the decision to Brook's misdemeanour, he does not see it that way.

"I honestly don't know," he told BBC Sport. "I don't really look at it like that.

"The decision to make Rooty captain is the right one. I'm actually really excited to see what he can do. He's definitely the right man to take over that job. I'm really looking forward to working alongside him."

"It was a tough period, especially when I was at home, getting ready to face the media," he continued.

"I feel like the character that I showed throughout that period to go out there and still perform and lead the white-ball side fairly well - I was proud of myself and the team.

"I don't want to say it has helped me, but it has made me realise how big it is to be England captain. It's not just the leadership on the field. It makes a massive difference if you can lead with responsibility off the field."

While captaining the red-ball team is on hold, at least for now, Brook says he has relished the responsibility of leading England's white-ball side and believes the experience will only stand him in good stead should the Test captaincy come his way in the future.

For now, though, he is right behind his leader.

"There are little things you learn throughout your career," Brook said.

"Obviously, the past few months have been on quite a high scale.

"Having that responsibility now has made a massive difference for me. There is the potential I could be captain, but at this moment in time all I'm focusing on is trying to win a few games of cricket.

"I will be 1,000 per cent behind Rooty and I'm really looking forward to what this Test side can do."

'Imagine how frustrated I get'

Brook has long been regarded by team-mates and pundits alike as one of the most talented cricketers of his generation, but he has developed a frustrating habit of playing a shot that brings his innings to an end far too soon.

How does Brook feel about some of his more speculative shots? He understands the exasperation they can cause and is working to "assess" situations more quickly.

"If supporters get frustrated, imagine how frustrated I get," Brook added.

"It's something I've been really trying to work on, trying to assess conditions quicker, and read the surface better. To go out there knowing what shots are going to be hard and what is going to be easier.

"I practise every single shot and have done since the age of eight. In the nets, I would do a 360 challenge with my dad. He would throw balls and I'd have to try to hit it to a certain place: that corner, then that corner.

"I have the ability to hit it everywhere, I just have to figure it out quicker in games."

Nasser: Root 'correct' to remove curfew

Nasser Hussain hailed new England Test captain Root's decision to scrap the team curfew.

"It's just a grown up decision, isn't it?" Hussain said on the latest Sky Sports Cricket Podcast of Root's decision to axe said curfew ahead of the three-Test series against Pakistan - live on Sky Sports - starting Wednesday.

"You've lost the team if you've got a curfew. You've got no control over your team.

"There's nothing good that happens with curfews because someone will end up breaking it.

"Just treat people like grown ups, and if they don't behave like grown ups, then the first thing you do is fine them, and then the second thing you do is leave them out.

"A professional sporting outfit shouldn't need a curfew, and it just shows how bad a place they were in that a curfew was put in.

"I'm really pleased that Joe has said 'no, enough of that nonsense'."

England vs Pakistan Test series fixtures

• First Test (Headingley) - Wednesday August 19 - Sunday August 23 (first ball 11am)
• Second Test (Lord's) - Thursday August 27 - Monday August 31 (first ball 11am)
• Third Test (Edgbaston) - Wednesday September 9 - Sunday September 13 (first ball 11am)

Watch the three-Test series between England and Pakistan live on Sky Sports Cricket from August 19. Stream cricket and more sport contract-free with NOW.

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