Cricket: England confirm Harry Brook as white-ball captain

Harry Brook will captain England in T20Is and ODIs after Jos Buttler resigned from the role following the side’s poor showing at the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy last month.

The 26-year-old batsman has deputised as England’s vice-captain over the past year and impressed as stand-in skipper against Australia in September.

“It’s a real honour to be named England’s white-ball captain,” Brook said after his appointment was announced on Monday.

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“Ever since I was a kid playing cricket at Burley in Wharfedale, I dreamed of representing Yorkshire, playing for England, and maybe one day leading the team. 

“To now be given that chance means a great deal to me.

“I’m excited to get going and give it everything I’ve got.”

Brook faces a tough task, as England have been on a downwards trajectory in white-ball cricket the past three years.

After pioneering an ultra-aggressive, batting-heavy approach under Eoin Morgan in the late 2010s, the nation has failed to live up to the expectations of cricket betting sites in recent tournaments.

In the 2023 Cricket World Cup, England failed to reach the semi-finals, finishing seventh out of 10 teams, while at the 2024 T20 World Cup they were soundly beaten in the final four.

Most recently, they were eliminated in the group stage of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, losing all three of their matches despite being third favourites pre-tournament across cricket bookmakers.

Now, BlondeBet has England at $6.50 for both the 2026 T20 World Cup and the 2027 Cricket World Cup, and Brook is confident they can become a major force on the big stage once again.

“There’s so much talent in this country, and I’m looking forward to getting started, moving us forward, and working towards winning series, World Cups and major events,” he said.

Rob Key, England’s managing director of men’s cricket, believes Brook is the man for the job.

“I’m delighted that Harry Brook has accepted the role as England’s white-ball captain across both formats,” he said.

“He’s been part of our succession planning for some time, albeit this opportunity has come slightly earlier than expected.

“Harry is not only an outstanding cricketer, but also has an excellent cricketing brain and a clear vision for both teams that will help drive us towards winning more series, World Cups and major global tournaments.”

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