By Charlie Talbot-Smith
ENGLAND have not won the U19 World Cup in 20 years and Harry Brook admits he and his teammates will have to be at their very best to end that run – both on and off the field.
Brook was this week announced as captain of the 15-strong squad that will head to New Zealand in January for the 2018 edition of the tournament.
Since that 1998 victory that launched the careers of the likes of Graeme Swann, Owais Shah and Rob Key, England have flattered to deceive at this level – only once making the final since then, back in 2014.
But Yorkshire youngster Brook – who played four County Championship games for the White Rose this past summer – is bullish on his side’s hopes.
Although the 18-year-old does concede that with media scrutiny on the ECB at an all-time high, he and his players must be on their best behaviour.
“That goes without saying, especially after what has happened out in Australia,” said Brook – who skippered the side this month in their Tri-Series in South Africa.
“Everybody knows they need to be on their best behaviour. It’s a huge honour representing your country first of all – if you are not doing the right things then there is no reason why you shouldn’t be dropped.
“But everybody behaves well in this team and we are all good together so far.”
England have been drawn into what, on paper at least, looks a kind group made up of Namibia, Canada and Bangladesh.
“100 per cent, we want to win it – that is the only thing we are thinking,” he added.
“That is what you play the game for isn’t it? You play to play in finals, it is all about winning in my eyes.
“But you have to take it one game at a time. We can’t be complacent and think we have Namibia first, we have got to be ruthless against every team that we play.”
Namibia and South Africa were the other participants in the Tri-Series earlier this month that saw England twice beat the Proteas in pool play before losing in the last over in the final.
And while India – who Brook admits are the biggest threat next year – taught the English youngsters a lesson this past summer, the skipper likes what he has seen from his maturing side.
“To absolutely smash South Africa twice was an incredible feeling,” he added.
“It was a shame they beat us in the last over in the final. But we can’t dwell on it too much. We just have got to learn from it and move on.
“Everyone has moved on from that series with India this past summer, everyone has improved and matured – we know our game a bit more.
“We were not at India’s standard this summer. But if we play against India like we did in those first two games against South Africa then we would have given them a really good shot.
“So we have to make sure we carry that into the World Cup.”
And with Jonathan Trott set to be batting coach in New Zealand, after James Taylor’s stint in South Africa, Brook has had no shortage of teaching to learn from.
“I learned a great deal off James, there is obviously a huge amount of experience there,” added Brook, who turns 19 in February.
“It is about trying to get as much from these people as you can, get feedback and that will give you confidence.
“It will be Trott in New Zealand and I cannot wait to work with him and see what he is about.”
