Harry Brook's Leadership to be Tested

Harry Brook's chance to lead England in the upcoming one-day series against Australia will put his leadership and captaincy abilities under the spotlight, according to Nasser Hussain. With England's captain, Jos Buttler sidelined due to a calf injury, Brook is expected to step in as captain. All-rounder Liam Livingstone will also join the squad, replacing Buttler for the five-match series starting on Thursday, September 19.

Hussain noted that this series provides Brook with an opportunity to demonstrate his potential as a leader, not only in white-ball cricket but overall. He remarked that Ben Stokes and Buttler won't be around forever, and now is the time for Brook to show he has the qualities to step into a leadership role.

Hussain added that, despite the series coming at the end of the summer, Brook and stand-in coach Marcus Trescothick must remind the team of the importance of playing against Australia. He stressed that fans who have paid to attend deserve a strong performance, especially at venues that haven't hosted Test cricket this summer. Hussain noted that this series represents the future of England’s white-ball cricket, and it's an opportunity for players to show if they want to be part of that future.

The recent T20 series against Australia ended in a 1-1 draw after rain in Manchester forced the final match to be abandoned without a ball being bowled. Australia won the first game convincingly in Southampton, while England bounced back in Cardiff, thanks to an impressive 87 from Livingstone.

Livingstone, who was initially left out of the ODI squad, expressed his determination to regain his place, saying that despite a tough couple of years, he is now enjoying his cricket again. His inclusion in the squad gives him the chance to make his case for a spot in the 50-over side.

Following Matthew Mott's departure as white-ball coach after England lost both World Cup titles within eight months, Brendon McCullum has been appointed as the new white-ball coach, in addition to his role as Test coach. McCullum will officially take over in January 2025, in time for England's white-ball tour of India and the ICC Champions Trophy, with Trescothick leading the team until then.

Hussain also expressed excitement about seeing Jamie Smith in action. He praised Smith as a serious talent, whose skills in Test cricket could translate well to white-ball formats. Hussain believes that Brook must ensure everyone in the squad gets opportunities to play, noting that young talents like Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Phil Salt, and Smith need game time to develop and help England make the right decisions in white-ball cricket.

Reflecting on past mistakes, Hussain pointed out that England hasn't always made the best strategic choices in limited-overs cricket, referencing decisions like bowling first in the T20 World Cup semi-final against India and the 50-over match against South Africa.