Michael Atherton labels Harry Brook a "certainty" for 2023 Cricket World Cup

Brook impressed with the bat in the second ODI against South Africa, scoring 80 runs off 75 balls

Michael Atherton believes Harry Brook is a "certainty" to make England's squad for the 2023 Cricket World Cup.

The 23-year-old Yorkshire batter has only played 17 List A matches across his career, with his ODI debut coming in the first ODI against South Africa on January 27.

However, in the second ODI, which took place in Bloemfontein on January 29, Brook impressed with the bat, scoring 80 runs from 75 balls - one of three England players, alongside Jos Buttler and Moeen Ali, to score a half-century in the match.

England will head to India in October to defend their World Cup crown, with head coach Matthew Mott facing some tough selection decisions thanks to the depth of white-ball batting talent at his disposal.

^{Harry Brook batting in the second ODI [Alex Davidson/Getty Images]}

Atherton, however, has little doubt about Brook's inclusion, stating on Sky Sports: "I think the measure of Brook's talents is that this is his second ODI and he feels like a certainty for the World Cup squad.

"It's incredibly competitive for top order batting, white-ball batting, but if you see this format as a bridge between Test and T20, he's already shown outstanding form in Tests [and] we know how destructive he can be in T20s.

"He's got the complete game. He's got the defensive technique and all the options on the attack. I'd be very surprised if he's not in India."

Assessing Brook’s performance, Nasser Hussain added: "It was pure class. The positions he was getting in, picking up the length off the spinner, his defensive technique upfront when it was moving – he's a high-class player in formats."

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