"I've got full rein to do whatever I want" - Harry Brook reveals chat with Jos Buttler ahead of his captaincy debut in ENG vs AUS ODI series

England middle-order batter Harry Brook talked about his conversation with Jos Buttler ahead of leading the national team for the first time in the five-game ODI series against Australia. Brook will take charge of the one-day side as Buttler continues to recover from the calf injury suffered just ahead of The Hundred 2024.

The right-handed batter gained some captaincy experience during The Hundred 2024 by leading the Northern Superchargers.

Speaking at a presser ahead of the series, Brook claimed, as quoted by ESPN Cricinfo:

"I might pick his brains here and there, but he's said I've got full rein to do whatever I want."

Brook also talked about how he intends to allow his bowlers to make their own decisions. He said:

"Whatever you feel like doing, just do it. The only bad outcome is you could get hit for a boundary and the next ball could be a dot ball."

Buttler also missed the preceding three-game T20I series against Australia, prompting Phil Salt to step up as captain. The series resulted in a draw as Australia and England won the first and second matches, respectively, but the third game was washed out.

"I didn't do as well as I'd wanted" - Harry Brook on his Test summer

Harry Brook. (Image Credits: Getty)

The 25-year-old reflected on his underwhelming Test summer, conceding that he didn't meet his own expectations. However, the youngster brushed aside the notion that of being mentally drained. He said:

"Because I wasn't scoring the runs I wanted to, I probably was [feeling] a little bit [tired]. But if I'd have gone out and got two hundreds against Sri Lanka then I'd have been like, 'I'll just carry on'. But no, not really. I love playing cricket: I want to play as much as I possibly can. I do think breaks are important at certain times, but I was pretty chilled. Obviously, I didn't do as well as I'd wanted."

"I want to get a hundred every innings, but it's not going to happen, is it? Professional sport is not easy… I felt like I batted really well against West Indies and then didn't play as well as I wanted to against Sri Lanka, but those things happen."

England won five out of their six Tests in the home summer.