Yorkshire batsman Harry Brook’s hopes of winter playing in Australia in doubt due to pandemic

The Yorkshire batsman was meant to be travelling Down Under to play club cricket in Hobart.

But everything is up in the air due to the crisis.

“I’ve no idea what’s happening at the minute,” said Brook. “I was meant to be going to Australia. I had quite a few things sorted and then obviously Covid’s hit us, so I’m not really sure what I’m going to be doing. But if I’m here (in England) I’ll be working hard on my game and trying to get fitter.”

Brook, 21, is desperate to continue playing after some good performances for Yorkshire this summer.

He was ever-present in the Bob Willis Trophy and the T20 Blast, shining in the former tournament with three half-centuries and an average of 43 and recording his maiden T20 fifty to help Yorkshire to win their final match of the season against Derbyshire on Sunday.

“I definitely want to go (to Australia),” he added. “I just want to play cricket. I’ve only played 13 games this year, and I need to get out and play some more cricket.

“I’d just be bored at home, playing golf and stuff. There’s only so much of that you can do.”

Brook hopes to play for Hobart club Clarence. “My uncle went out there when he was younger, and I’ve got a bit of family out there as well,” he said. “But I’m still not sure if I’m able to go. I haven’t spoken to my agent about it recently, but he seems to think it’s going to be quite hard to get out there. I’ve got everything sorted – accommodation, club. It’s just whether the country will let me in.”

Brook believes he would go there as a better player after making some technical adjustments to his game.

The Keighley-born right-hander and former England Under-19 captain played some of the most aesthetically pleasing innings of Yorkshire’s truncated season, striking beautifully down the ground in particular from what looked a more solid base at the crease.

“I changed a few technical things over the winter and that seems to be getting me into better positions,” said Brook.

“I’ve developed a trigger, a back-and-across movement which I feel has helped a lot; before I was falling over the ball a little bit, getting out lbw/bowled. My new trigger seems to have worked well so far.

“I also think I’m a lot more calm now and not putting as much pressure on myself, especially that innings I played against Derbyshire.

“I just went out with a ‘what will be will be’ mentality and felt really calm while I was batting.”

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