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.
Brook was issued with a final warning and fined approximately £30,000. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player "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.
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