Joe Root has been dealing in Test hundreds since 2021. The right-hander batter has scored over 5000 runs with 19 tons and is the only active cricketer who can break Sachin Tendulkar’s world record for most runs in red-ball cricket. He recently ignored Virat Kohli, Steve Smith and Kane Williamson while picking the best player in the world.
He feels Harry Brook is the best player at the moment with the 25-year-old scoring back-to-back centuries in the ongoing Test series against New Zealand.
Brook amassed 171 runs in the first Test, while he managed 123 in the second game of the three-Test series. In 23 Test, the right-handed batter has already hit 8 tons. The most recent century against the Kiwis was his third of the winter following a magnificent 317 runs against Pakistan in Multan.
Root, who recently scored his 36th Test ton, said: “Brookie is the best player in the world at the moment. He is good to watch. He takes away the pressure from other batters and can play all the shots around the wicket. He can hit a six and can scoop over the head,” he said.
Brook and Root have added 1,779 runs in partnership at an average of 77.34, making them the most successful pair in the world. Root is number one, while Brook is 2 in the ICC Test Rankings for Batters. In 23 Test matches, Brook has posted 2,280 runs at an average of 61.62. No other English batter has recorded such numbers after 23 red-ball games. His average is the third-best in history among batters with at least 20 innings, only behind Sir Don Bradman and Adam Voges.
Brook was injured while playing football and was sidelined as England won the second Test by 323 runs in Wellington. However, the injury is not serious, and he is expected to play in the final game in Hamilton.
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