Cricket Reader Q&a: Ask Ali Martin Your Questions Ahead Of England V Pakistan – Live

England’s men start their post-Bazball future next week with a three-Test series against Pakistan. Cricket correspondent Ali Martin is online now to answer your questions about this new era for the team – and anything else you’d like to discuss

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TheSozz asks: What’s your view on Harry Brook? He seems incredibly talented but a bit brainless. He’s been passed over for the test captaincy, so what’s your view? What’s his ceiling? Stokes tells us he’s a wonderfully insightful reader of the game, but is he really?

If not Brook for the captaincy after Joe, then who would your money be on?

Thanks! As for Brook, I am currently writing something about Brook ahead of the Pakistan series and, in short, I truly believe he can go on to become an all-time great. His hand-eye ability is on a par with Steve Smith or AB de Villiers - that rare ability to almost see the matrix others can’t.

I think ‘brainless’ is harsh. For one, he was a willing and loyal conscript to Brendon McCullum’s attacking approach and many of his innings/dismissals to date reflect this. He may also be a victim of his own ability, possessing a 360-degree range of shots but still learning when and where to bring them out.

It’s a good question and one that Mark Ramprakash is looking into for his column early next week. People can pick holes in how Stokes went about the job but Root should hopefully have learned a bit from watching him. It won’t be easy now England’s home bankers have left the stage and that second morning at the Oval did set alarms ringing a bit…