England captain Harry Brooks came of age as a leader at Pallekele Stadium in Kandy, where his match-winning century against Pakistan finally delivered redemption after a torrid few months. His innings will go down as one of the finest of his career and demonstrated leadership under pressure like never before.
Despite facing an initial challenge when Phil Salt fell early into the chase for 165 runs, Brooks took charge with a statement that said “leave it to me.” He launched himself into a heroic century – the second fastest in T20 World Cup history and first by a captain.
Brooks was thrust into this role after having his reputation tarnished following an incident involving being punched by a nightclub bouncer during a white-ball tour, for which he apologized on the grounds of protecting teammates.
The 27-year-old’s return to form at Pallekele Stadium came as England faced their toughest test yet. The team had struggled through earlier matches and were under intense scrutiny from critics who questioned his captaincy decisions. His performance showed a different side – one that was intelligent with a batting talent to back it up.
“He judged perfectly when to attack and when to hold back,” said Shaheen Afridi, another Pakistan quick bowler. “He worked singles and twos against our strong attack.”
Brooks himself acknowledged the hard work behind his performance: “It’s probably been the hardest winter of my life. I’ve seen a lot of stuff behind the scenes.” He added that an international match in Sri Lanka last month had also provided valuable experience.
The victory, however, was not taken for granted by Brooks who remarked modestly, saying he preferred his recent ODI century against Sri Lanka. But with just two more wins needed to clinch the World Cup, England showed no signs of letting down their supporters and teammates.
Not many teams in history have won a trophy three times; England’s quest is now on track for that historic feat despite early setbacks. As Brooks spoke to reporters post-match, his team still had plenty left to prove as they aimed for an unlikely but cherished victory. For the captain, every win was precious, no matter how ugly it might be.