London, Aug 6 (NationPress) Former England opener Geoffrey Boycott asserts that Harry Brook possesses the potential to emerge as one of the great middle-order players of this generation. During the recent 2-2 drawn series against India, Brook concluded with 481 runs at an average of 53.44.

His remarkable innings of 111 runs off 98 balls at The Oval nearly secured victory for England in a nail-biting Test match, which India ultimately won by six runs. “I have believed for a long time that Harry Brook could be one of the great middle-order players of this generation,” he remarked.

“Players like him are rare, and he could find himself in the same league as Wally Hammond and Denis Compton, who are universally acknowledged as among England’s finest. Harry possesses a unique ability to make batting appear effortless. It’s important to note that it’s not. His height gives him long levers, allowing him to strike the ball with great power and dominate bowlers without resorting to reckless shots.

“In this era, he stands out above the rest. I challenge anyone to identify another No 5 in world cricket, or middle-order batsman, with his skill set, his capacity to seize control of the game and leave bowlers puzzled about their next delivery,” Boycott elaborated in his column for The Telegraph on Wednesday.

Adding to Brook’s impressive performance was Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir, who named him as England’s Player of the Series. Brook now boasts ten Test centuries, including one triple hundred, and has accumulated 2820 runs across 30 Tests.

“Brook showcases an extensive array of strokes, and when he finds his rhythm, he dominates bowlers, scoring freely in all directions. They often find themselves uncertain about where to bowl to him, which creates an advantageous situation for any batsman. I’ve always maintained that every team needs a genuine, unpredictable batsman capable of extraordinary feats. Yes, they may occasionally play reckless shots, but that risk often comes with substantial rewards. When they’re on form, they can be match-winners,” Boycott added.

He concluded with a hope that Brook will approach his batting cautiously when the Ashes series comes to Australia. “I just hope Harry is intelligent enough not to alter his game drastically but to assess the situation and exercise a bit more caution. That’s all he needs to do. There will be instances where Australia will bowl exceptionally well, and trying to dominate them won’t be the smartest approach.

“He possesses a solid defense both on the front and back foot, so it’s not that he can’t endure. He should let challenging moments pass when the bowlers are in control. It’s akin to playing chess. Sometimes, you must sit back and wait for your moment, then strike. If he charges down the pitch at bowlers like Hazlewood and Cummins, he’ll be courting trouble, but if he evaluates the situation, he can find success in Australia.”