The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced on Sunday that Harry Brook, the middle-order batsman, will miss the upcoming five-match Test series against India due to personal reasons. He will be returning home with immediate effect. The ECB stated that they will announce a replacement for Brook in due course for the series, which is scheduled to begin in Hyderabad from Thursday. Brook had been part of the team that traveled to Abu Dhabi for a preparatory camp ahead of the series.
“Harry Brook is set to return home with immediate effect for personal reasons from the England Men’s Test tour of India. He will not be returning to India,” the ECB statement read.
Harry Brook out of the India Test series due to personal reasons. pic.twitter.com/rjeYH9tTp6
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 21, 2024
“The Brook family respectfully requests privacy during this time. In light of this, the ECB and the family kindly request the media and the public to respect their wish for privacy and refrain from intruding on their private space. The England selectors will confirm a replacement player for the tour in due course,” it further read.
Harry Brook made his Test debut in 2022 against South Africa, and his most recent appearance in England whites was against Australia at the Oval in July 2023. The 24-year-old batsman from Yorkshire has participated in 12 Test matches, amassing a total of 1181 runs at an impressive average of 61. His contributions include four centuries and seven half-centuries.