‘Could be in Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar realms’: Geoffrey Boycott’s Harry Brook big warning

England’s Harry Brook (AP photo) England legend Sir Geoffrey Boycott believes Harry Brook has the rare batting ability to reach the heights of the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara, but fears the current Test world number one is not making the most of his extraordinary talent.Boycott, who played 108 Tests and 36 ODIs for England, criticized Brook’s approach in Test cricket. While the former England captain acknowledges his exceptional timing, range and range of shots, he believes Brook’s decision-making and tendency to approach Test deliveries like batted white balls is holding him back from fulfilling his immense potential.“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I’ve seen a lot of players. I haven’t seen anybody with the talent that he has for a long time. Huge talent. The timing, the shot, it’s high, the range, but his mindset is just unbelievable,” Boycott said on the ‘Geoffrey Boycott: An Extraordinary Innings’ podcast.

“He could be in the realms of Lara and Tendulkar”

Brook remains the world number one in Tests but his recent run has not lived up to the remarkable standards he has set in the format. He went more than a year without a Test century. In the first Test against Pakistan at Headingley, Brook scored 91, before 15 in the ongoing Test at Lord’s.For Boycott, the problem isn’t a lack of ability, but how Brook chooses to use it. The former opener believes the England batsman has the talent to join a very exclusive group of all greats if he can improve his mindset and become more selective in Test cricket.“He’s going to have a decent career if he wants to continue playing like that, but he has the ability, if he could think better, to be in the realms of Lara and Tendulkar. And wow, that’s a bit special. To be up in that stratosphere is huge,” Boycott said.“There aren’t many above them, except Bradman, and that’s strange. But he plays one-day cricket with every ball. He doesn’t look at the ball, he has to bat first ball. He’ll just take catches at mid-on, mid-on and silly places,” he added.Criticism of Boycott centers on what he sees as Brook’s inability to make the necessary adjustment between white ball and Test cricket. Brook is also England’s white-ball captain and Boycott believes the aggressive instincts that have served him well in limited-overs cricket could become an issue in the longer format.

Boycott offered to help – but heard nothing

Bojcott also revealed that he had previously been offered the opportunity to speak to Brook about his Test batting, but the conversation never took place.According to Boycott, Brook’s uncle approached him last year and asked if he would speak to the England batsman. Boycott said he was happy to help if Brook wanted his advice, but he didn’t want to impose.“His uncle came to me last year and said, ‘Would you like to talk to him?’ Well, he asked me what I thought of him. I told him exactly this. He said, “Really?” I said, “Yeah.” I said that many abilities are rare, special.“He said, ‘Would you like to talk to him?’ I said, ‘It is not for me to go to him. He could tell me, you know, go away,’ I said. But if he asked me, of course I would help him. Why wouldn’t I? I gave him my number and I never heard a word,” Boycott said.