More talented than Pietersen? Brook brilliance leads to bold Stokes statement

Ben Stokes no longer plays for England - but that has not stopped him from rating players who do or did.

Harry Brook is, in many ways, a modern-day Kevin Pietersen.

A player with jaw-dropping batting ability who can take any bowling attacking apart and make accessing any part of the ground look routine but also prone to driving fans mad with a daft dismissal.

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In Southampton on Tuesday, though, we only saw the best of Brook as he tonked a 42-ball hundred - England's second-fastest in T20Is - against Sri Lanka, with his 10 fours and half a dozen sixes including six boundaries in one over off Dunith Wellalage.

The swashbuckling innings was played in front of England legend Pietersen, who has joined head coach Brendon McCullum's white-ball set-up as a mentor, up to and including the 50-over World Cup in South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe in late 2027.

And Brook's knock lured Stokes onto social media to say that, in his opinion, the Yorkshireman's ability outstrips that of Pietersen.

Brook or Pietersen? Have your say!

Stokes, on the day he struck a half-century for Durham against Worcestershire in the County Championship, wrote: "I don't even think the genius of KP could come close to what Brook has talent-wise. You are an absolute freak, Harry. You're mint to watch."

Shortly after, former Test captain Stokes added: "Bit harsh on KP actually. Both are freak talents but Brook is better in my opinion."

So, who do you think is the most talented of the two? Vote in the poll below.

Brook still has a long way to go to match Pietersen longevity-wise.

KP amassed almost 14,000 international runs between 2004 and 2014, a number he was prevented from adding to after a fallout with the ECB truncated his England career.

Brook has over 6,500 international runs since debuting in 2022, so, all being well will eclipse Pietersen's haul at some stage.

At 27, he could have over a decade left.

'Genius Brook has everything as a batter'

Brook's sizzling century against Sri Lanka was his first in any international cricket since a T20 ton versus Pakistan in February, during a World Cup match in Pallekele.

It was worth the wait. The batter's picking up of length was extraordinary in an innings highly praised by Sky Sports pundits Eoin Morgan and Kumar Sangakkara.

Sangakkara said of Brook: "He reads length so quickly. He is very light and nimble on his feet. He has oodles of time and devastating power. On the back foot against spin, he is very good at hitting over long-on, long-off, even square.

"Then against the pace there is the scoop and reverse paddle or punch down the ground for six. He has everything."

Morgan added: "I think Harry is one of our very best. It is difficult to find a player of recent generations that has Brook's ability.

"He is coming into his peak years, yet we are seeing absolute genius time and time again in all formats of the game."

Morgan is right about all formats, too.

Brook's last Test century may have come over a year ago, against India at The Kia Oval, but he has knuckled down in red-ball matches of late, batting far more responsibly while notching five fifties across the summer in the international game's longest form.

I feel like I've been there or thereabouts all summer, in all three formats. I feel like I've let myself down a couple of times - I've had the opportunity to score a big score. Thankfully I didn't give that opportunity up today. It was nice to get to three figures. A special feeling.

In the international game's shortest form on Tuesday night, he did get a century - and how.

He can now chat about it with KP, a bloke he may even have more talent than…

Watch England's second T20 vs Sri Lanka live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event from 6pm on Thursday (6.30pm first ball). Latest Sky Sports deals or stream no contract with NOW.

England vs Sri Lanka results and fixtures

All times UK and Ireland; all games live on Sky Sports

• First T20 (Utilita Bowl) - England win by 119 runs
• Second T20 (Thursday September 17) - Cardiff (6.30pm)
• Third T20 (Saturday September 19) - Old Trafford (2.30pm)
• First ODI (Tuesday September 22) - Durham (12.30pm)
• Second ODI (Thursday September 24) - Headingley (12.30pm)
• Third ODI (Sunday September 27) - The Kia Oval (10.30am)