Harry Brook's brutal century sparks Pietersen comparisons as England crush Sri Lanka by 119 runs

Brook's brutal hundred lights up Southampton

Harry Brook crashed a stunning century and sparked immediate comparisons with Kevin Pietersen as England thrashed Sri Lanka by 119 runs in the first Vitality T20 in Southampton. The sensational Brook, after a summer without a Test hundred, crashed the ball to all parts in hitting 114 not out from just 49 balls to power his side to 254-4. His ten fours and six sixes were ferocious — reminiscent of former England batter Pietersen, the newest addition to this side's backroom staff.

England 254-4 (20 overs): Brook 114* (49), Buttler 80 (44) Sri Lanka 135 (19 overs): Wellalage 33 (21); Baker 3-12. England won by 119 runs.

'An absolute freak, Harry'

Brook's intensity and his running between the wickets were equally as impressive as his striking. "I don't even think the genius of KP could come close to what Harry Brook has talent-wise," said his former captain and team-mate Ben Stokes, who was watching on TV. "You are an absolute freak, Harry."

Brook was six years old when Pietersen — a shock appointment as a mentor through to next year's World Cup — secured England the Ashes on the final day at The Oval in 2005. He was 14, old enough to understand, when Pietersen was controversially dumped by England after the 2013-14 Ashes defeat. "I used to love watching him bat when I was younger," said Brook. "He always looked to take the attack to bowlers and put them under pressure. In that aspect, I'm quite similar."

How do Brook and Pietersen compare?

Brook is, in many ways, the TikTok generation's Pietersen. Pietersen invented the switch hit — a shot Brook rarely plays — while Brook's version is that tumbling scoop over his and the wicketkeeper's head, a shot absent in Southampton. They are most similar in the way they pick length, allowing them to pull, flat-bat or cut balls from spinners even in good areas. Brook did so throughout his partnership with Jos Buttler, who also played superbly for his 80 from 44 balls. They put on 128 after debutant Aneurin Donald made 12.

Although Pietersen was educated in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa and Brook under the Cumbrian hills in Sedbergh, they come from the same cricketing school. "That's the way I play," Pietersen said after one aggressive shot too many during a Test in 2009. "I got to 97 playing that way so it obviously wasn't meant to be." Those words could easily have come from the mouth of Brook, and it is why the pair have stirred opinion among England fans more than any other batters in the modern era.

"Is it really that hard to just sit back and admire these players for what they are, on the good days and the bad days, and stop berating them for doing things that we would never, ever, ever even think of doing because we simply aren't on their level to think that way?" Stokes added on social media. Stokes, who backed Brook to succeed him as Test skipper, has always been a Brook fan.

The numbers at 27

Picking between Brook and Pietersen may well be pub chat one day, should Brook's career turn out as many hope. At Brook's age of 27 there is little to choose between their records. Pietersen's Test average, which ended at 47.28 after his 104 Tests, stood at 49.55 at this stage; Brook's is 53.08, though Pietersen had two more centuries. Pietersen has the edge in one-day international cricket — an average of 47.87 and six centuries to Brook's 37.43 and three — but the Yorkshireman's second T20 century, hit on the south coast, is two more than Pietersen ever managed.

Perhaps where Brook lags behind is those iconic moments. While Brook's Test best of 317 on a road in Pakistan is a mark few can match, Pietersen's 158 at The Oval won England the 2005 Ashes in his fifth Test — the first of his four Ashes series wins. Eighteen months later he made the same score against Australia in Adelaide against Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath. Brook's best Ashes score remains 85, and he is yet to win the urn.

'A mighty special player'

Still, Brook's latest T20 display showed the company he could one day keep. A more mature batting style in whites this summer has also been noted. Since being promoted to number three in England's T20 side at the World Cup earlier this year, Brook averages 95.20 at a strike-rate of 200.84, and has scored 288 runs in the format since he was last dismissed. "Harry Brook has today cemented himself as maybe the best all-format batter in the world," said former England bowler Steven Finn. "[Australia's] Travis Head would be up there and so would [India's] Shubman Gill. Brook is lacking a Test century in the last year or so but he still averages 42 in that time. When you see the versatility of what he did today and the tempo he has played, he's a mighty special player."

Brook also holds one clear advantage in any debate for the maverick position in a fantasy England XI. Overlooked for the Test captaincy, Brook has won 18 of his past 20 T20s as England captain; Pietersen's stint as England skipper lasted only five months.

A near-perfect night

Sri Lanka's target was always likely to be beyond them but, even without Jofra Archer or Sam Curran, England ruthlessly dismissed their opponents for 135 in Southampton. Brook oversaw young seamer Sonny Baker's best performance in an England shirt, taking 3-12 in four overs.

"I thought the performance tonight was near perfect," Brook said afterwards.

England want Pietersen to help them win the 50-over World Cup next year. He will do well to improve on this.