England Batter Harry Brook Reveals How He "Straight Away" Signed Team's Central Contract

England batter Harry Brook revealed that he agreed to sign a three-year central contract for the senior men's national side "as soon as they called him" according to an interview to ESPNCricinfo. Brook along with pacer Mark Wood and batter Joe Root are the only players to have signed the three-year deal with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). Brook is in his 20s, at 24 years of age unlike the other two players in their 30s and is also highly-sought after in the T20 league circuit, becoming an Indian Premier League (IPL) big buy after being picked by Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs 13.25 crores last year.

Despite all the riches T20 cricket could offer him, Brook did not think for even a second when Rob Key, Managing Director of England Men's cricket called him.

"Straight away as soon as England called I was going to sign the contract. I have wanted to play for England all my life," Brook said as quoted by ESPNCricinfo ahead of the second ODI against the West Indies.

Brook was one of the six players who were offered three-year deals. Jofra Archer and skipper Jos Buttler opted for two-year contracts while Test skipper Ben Stokes opted for a year-long contract on the basis that the value of contracts could increase when new terms are agreed upon next year.

Brook's commitment to England is a boon for the side which is pushing him as a next-generation great. His workload is being managed well too after he admitted that he needed rest following a difficult 50-over Cricket World Cup campaign in India.

Since his Test debut in September 2022, nobody has played as many matches for England as Brook, with a total of 45. England could have made him rest for West Indies ODIs and bring him straight to T20Is but he is playing both.

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