ENG vs IND: "He looks a born leader…"- Michael Vaughan wants Harry Brook to take vice captaincy from Ollie Pope

Harry Brook scored a crucial century in second innings of The Oval test.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has backed white-ball captain Harry Brook to lead England in test cricket in Ben Stokes’ absence. After Stokes was ruled out of the fifth test between against India at The Oval due to a shoulder injury, vice-captain Ollie Pope took the leadership of the side.

Earlier this year, Brook was named as the skipper of England in ODIs and T20Is. During the second innings of The Oval test, he hammered a crucial century, scoring 111 runs off 98 deliveries. He also slammed a half-century in the first innings, helping England to gain a 23-run lead.

Brook and Joe Root set up a partnership of 195 runs for the fourth wicket in the second innings to put England in a dominating position in the match. Reaching 339/6 at the stumps of day four, England need just 35 more runs to win the encounter. Root also smacked a century in the second innings.

Harry Brooks looks a born leader: Michael Vaughan

While speaking on a podcast on Test Match Special show, cricketer-turned commentator Vaughan said that Brook looks like a born leader and should lead the team in tests when Stokes is unavailable.

“Harry Brook, to me, looks a leader. He looks a born leader, If Ben Stokes is injured in the future can’t Pope stay as vice-captain and Harry Brook gets the leadership role?” he said.

“I look at someone like Ollie Pope, who looks a fantastic vice-captain. He is a brilliant person to have next to the captain to come up with ideas. Sometimes vice-captains aren’t brilliant captains,” he further said.

“I don’t know well enough and am not in the dressing room. I just want the best captain who is the best leader leading the England side. I don’t think a good vice-captain will necessarily be a good captain,” Vaughan added.

Notably, Pope has led England in four tests in the past, winning three games and losing one encounter. In the ongoing series, he has mustered 306 runs in five matches at an average of 34.0, including one century and one half-century.

Brook is the second highest run-scorer for England in the series, hitting 481 runs in nine innings at an impressive average of 53.44. The 26-year-old has slammed two centuries and two fifties in the series.

Meanwhile, England will resume play in The Oval test on day five at 339/6, with Jamie Smith (2*) and Jamie Overton on strike. They need 35 more runs for victory. England lead the five-match series 2-1.

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