NEW DELHIL: Bowling legend James Anderson remarked that England batsman Harry Brook possesses all the qualities required to surpass the nation’s greatest run scorer in Test cricket, Joe Root, as well as former top order batsman Kevin Pietersen.
On the fifth day of their first Test of the three-match series at Multan, England defeated Pakistan by an innings and 47 runs, making the 25-year-old Brook the first batter to record a triple century for his country in 34 years.
In the same Test, 33-year-old Root made a double ton, good for fifth place on the all-time list with 12,664 runs.
“He’s on the way to being in the top three that I’ve played with,” Anderson said on the Tailenders podcast on Friday. “It’s Root, Pietersen and him. He’s definitely got all the attributes to overtake them.
“He’s just got everything. Without trying to big him up too much because he’s still really early in his test career, I do think that he’s got the perfect amount of each of those two and that’s what will make him the best that we’ve ever had.”
After completing his 188th Test and taking 704 wickets over the course of a 21-year career, Anderson, 42, announced his retirement in July. During that time, he rose to the third-highest wicket-taker in the format.
Having played alongside both Pietersen and Root, Anderson feels that Brook possesses the latter’s technique and temperament.
“But he’s got the shots of both Root and Pietersen. He can destroy an attack if he wants to, he can play a longer innings if he needs to,” Anderson added.
“The thing that’s really similar between Root and Brook is that they love batting. They literally couldn’t care less what format it is. They just want to bat.
“They want to have fun doing it. As much as Brook’s the younger player and will be learning loads from Rooty, I still think Rooty learns from him as well.”
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