'It would be a great honour' - Harry Brook on potential England Test captaincy

England's white-ball skipper Harry Brook has affirmed his desire to take over as the captain of the Test side after Ben Stokes' shock retirement announcement during the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge.

Brook had been appointed as England's white-ball captain after Jos Buttler stepped down from his duties following their poor showing in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. He has also been the vice-captain of the Test team ahead of the Ashes series in Australia. He is set to take charge of the T20I side in a five-match series against India, just two days after the Three Lions were handed a 160-run loss by the Kiwis. Brook stated that it would be an honour to captain the side in the longest format if he is given the opportunity.

"Look, it would be a great honour to do it, it'd be a privilege to do it, to captain England in the highest format of our game. The pinnacle, I think it is. Playing Test cricket is the greatest thing that I've ever done in my life and it's a dream and something that I've always wanted to do since I could speak. Look, it's not up to me, that decision, but if I got offered it then I'd be happy to take it," Brook was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

Stokes missed the second Test of the series against New Zealand after breaking team curfew and being involved in an altercation at a nightclub after victory in the first Test at Lord's. In Stokes' absence, Joe Root took over the reins of the team, but was unable to prevent a 253-run loss.

Brook, who himself was involved in an altercation with a nightclub bouncer in Wellington in late October of 2025, was not considered despite being the designated vice-captain. Despite this, Brook backed the management's decision to proceed with Root as the captain of the side, and praised the batting stalwart.

"I think the decision that was made was the right one. Making Rooty captain last week was definitely the right decision. He has always been there for the ECB. He has been a stalwart for English cricket. He's in my opinion the best batter to ever play Test cricket.

The ECB needed him that week as well and he stepped up. My job that week was to just try and help him as much as possible. Lots of conversations: obviously we're at first and second slip, so we're always chatting about how we can have an effect on the game. But I definitely feel ECB made the right decision," Brook said.

Ben Stokes backs Harry Brook as next England Test captain

Brook withdrew his contract with the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League in 2025 after being made white-ball skipper of the Three Lions, which has seen him slapped with a two-year ban from playing in the competition. He further reaffirmed his commitment to England and stated it as the cause for not participating in franchise leagues around the world.

"I've committed completely to England cricket. I've said that I don't want to play any franchise cricket barring the Hundred and given everything that I want to do is to play cricket for England and whatever I do on and off the field is to try and be and perform as well as I possibly can for England, and hence the reason I don't play in the IPL and PSL and all the other franchise competitions," Brook said.

"I am just happy playing cricket for England as much as I possibly can. Hence the reason I don't play any franchise cricket. For me, personally, I just got to try and look after myself, to be honest. To play as many games as I possibly can for England, and whether that's as captain or not - I'm just happy to be out on the park," he added.

England take on India in the first T20I of the series on July 1 at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street. This is their first T20 assignment since their semi-final loss to the same opposition in the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup in March of this year.