'You're a Test Player' - Harry Brook reveals Brian Lara's words when he promoted him as opener for SRH against KKR

Harry Brook has had a mixed season in the Indian Premier League 2023 as he’s failed to get going apart from one knock where he smacked a sensational century against KKR. After failing to fire in the middle order, the 24-year-old was promoted to open the innings in Sunrisers Hyderabad’s third fixture against Punjab Kings.

Opening for the second time in the tournament, Brook played a scintillating knock of 100* off 55 balls smashing 12 fours and three sixes in his innings. Revealing the discussions with SRH head coach, Brian Lara, before being promoted up the order, Brook said that Lara knew that he could face the swinging ball since he’s a Test player.

"He [Brian Lara] told me, 'You're a Test player,'" Brook said. "He knew that I could face the swinging ball and adapt to it. So he sent me up top. I've never really done it before, and in my second game I got a hundred,” Brook told ESPNCricinfo.

The England international was picked up by the two-time IPL winners for a whopping INR 13.25 Crore at the mini-auction held in December 2022, hence his performance has been immensely scrutinized by the media. Apart from his hundred, Brook has managed to score just 63 runs in seven innings. As a result, was demoted down the order in SRH’s last fixture against Delhi Capitals after three failures at the top following his hundred.

I've gone off it [social media] for now: Harry Brook

Talking after his sensational hundred against KKR, Brook stated that he was glad to shut his trollers down. However, they’ve once again returned after his four consecutive failures. To counter the constant bullying from the digital world, the youngster revealed that he has gone off social media.

"It's one of the hardest bits. When you've got nothing to do, you're in the hotel, and you don't really get out and about as much as at home, you do find yourself on your phone a lot. Things pop up, but it's keyboard warriors at their finest - it's pointless. I've gone off it [social media] for now. Hopefully, that makes a difference,” he added.

One of the major flaws in Brook’s technique highlighted by the experts was the fact that he struggles against spin. However, he has faced just 45 balls from spinners this season.

"I haven't faced as much as usual, when I'm in the middle order. But obviously, India is renowned for creating good spinners, and that produces a different challenge,” he added.

Meanwhile, Sunrisers Hyderabad, who’re reeling at the ninth position in the IPL points table with three wins from eight games would hope that Brook fires in the second half of the competition and takes them to playoffs. SRH will next face Kolkata Knight Riders on Thursday, May 04 at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad.