Moeen Ali has lauded Harry Brook as a "real special player" who will "be around for years to come" with England, following his impressive performances in the ongoing T20I series against Pakistan.
In four games, Brook has struck 188 runs at an average of 94 and a strike rate of 174.07, most notably blasting a brilliant unbeaten 81 off just 35 balls as England won the third T20I by 63 runs in Karachi.
Brook has been tipped by Kevin Pietersen to star for England in all three formats and, along with his white ball exploits, he made his Test debut against South Africa earlier this month after some stunning form for Yorkshire in the County Championship.
And Moeen, who has been captaining England against Pakistan with Jos Buttler recovering from a calf injury, has been hugely impressed by the 23-year-old. "In Brook, we have a real special player," Moeen wrote in his column for the Daily Mail .
"He's a talent that will be around for years to come. He took down pace and spin and the manner in which he picked the gaps was ridiculous.
"He had all the answers. Brooky really is a 360-degree player who plays proper cricket shots and he's got all the tricks in the book — scoop, sweep, you name it, he has it."
Speaking after his stunning 81, Brook explained his thought process. "I'm just trying to play on instinct as much as possible," he said.
"If they go wide, I try and hit it over point; if they go straight, I'll try and hit it over midwicket. I just play the ball on its merit. You get a gist of what they're trying to bowl by looking at the field.
"If they've got four men out on the leg side, you kind of know they've got to bowl straight because if they go wide, it's almost a free hit. I'm just trying to watch the field, but then play on instinct at the same time."
