Venue: North Sound, Antigua Date: 6 December Time: 17:30 GMT |
Coverage: Live text updates on the BBC Sport website and app. |
England’s Harry Brook has deleted his phone’s social media apps in an effort to shield himself from negativity.
Brook, 24, made a superb start in international cricket, playing starring roles in Test cricket and winning the T20 World Cup in November 2022.
But he struggled in the 50-over World Cup in October and November, averaging 28.16 in England’s group-stage exit.
“I’ve been off social media for a while now, anything I stumble across, I delete it from the phone,” he said.
“I haven’t really seen any negativity, I think that’s helped my game, helped my mental health and everything to be off social media and seeing all the negativity that brings.”
Brook had only played three one-day internationals before forcing his way into England’s World Cup squad at the expense of opener Jason Roy.
He had a difficult World Cup, with a top score of 66, but made an encouraging 71 in the middle order in England’s defeat by West Indies in the first of three ODIs on Sunday.
Brook, who signed a three-year central contract during the World Cup, has taken the decision to leave his social media content to his management team so he can concentrate on performances on the pitch.
Earlier this year, Brook featured in the Indian Premier League for the first time after being bought for £1.35m by Sunrisers Hyderabad.
His first three innings saw him score 29 runs, before he smashed a 55-ball century.
In an interview following that innings, Brook said: “I’m glad I could shut them up.”
He continued to receive abuse and finished the tournament with an average of 21.11.
“I was an idiot and I said that stupid thing in an interview which I regret a little bit,” he said.
“In India, you end up sitting in your hotel room, not much to do so I find myself just scrolling Instagram or Twitter or whatever and come across stuff you just don’t want to see.
“I thought it was the right idea to get off it. I’ve obviously still got Instagram and Twitter but thankfully I’ve got someone running it for me.”
Brook has been released by Sunrisers, but has put himself forward for the auction, which takes place on 19 December, for the 2024 tournament.
It could mean a very busy period for Brook, with the current white-ball tour of West Indies ending on 21 December and then a five-Test series starting in India on 25 January.
That finishes on 12 March, with the IPL expected to start shortly after.
“I probably felt like I needed a little bit of a break after the World Cup, to be honest,” Brook said.
“It wears you out. Obviously we didn’t have a great competition as well, which didn’t help.
“To have a little two-week break at home was refreshing. But I’m happy to be out here, to be honest. I feel like I’ve got some things I need to work on, especially in one-day cricket.”