England has been dealt a significant blow on the eve of its highly-anticipated five-Test series against India, with young star batter Harry Book withdrawing from the squad.
The ECB on Sunday confirmed Brook would leave the team’s training camp in the UAE and immediately return home to England for personal reasons.
England’s squad was due to arrive in Hyderabad on Sunday, with the first Test to commence on Thursday.
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“The Brook family respectfully requests privacy during this time,” an ECB statement read. “In light of this, the ECB and the family kindly request the media and the public to respect their wish for privacy and refrain from intruding on their private space.”
Multiple reports indicated Dan Lawrence had been called up as Brook’s replacement in the squad.
Brook’s departure puts a dent in England’s hopes of becoming the first team to win a Test series in India in more than a decade.
The 24-year-old has been a revelation for England since being unleashed in the national team across all three formats, but most notably as a Test player where he his aggressive nature has personified the ‘Bazball’ approach under the leadership of coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes.
Brook has averaged 62.15 runs at a ridiculous strike rate of 91.76 across his first 12 Tests, including four centuries and seven half-centuries. Four of those 50s came against Australia in last year’s Ashes series.
Lawrence could be a straight replacement for Brook in the starting XI, although England selectors could promote Jonny Bairstow up the order, play him as a specialist batter and bring in Ben Foakes as the wicket-keeper.
