‘Simplicity often breeds greatness’: Greg Chappell compares England batter with Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar and Greg Chappell in 2007. (Photo by Deshakalyan Chowdhury/AFP via Getty Images)

NEW DELHI: Former Australian captain Greg Chappell praised England batter Harry Brook likening his style and performance to that of the great Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar.
Having established himself with some significant knocks in all formats, Brook is one of the newest faces in world cricket. Brook’s favorite format to date is Test cricket, and he hopes to have an effect in the Ashes series against Australia later this year.
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In his Sydney Morning Herald column, Chappell stated that the England team is not only rebuilding but also advancing with a squad that “looks equipped to dominate for a generation” under the “bold and transformative leadership of Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum.”
“Central to this optimism is the emergence of Harry Brook, a batting sensation whose performances and approach I compare to the great Sachin Tendulkar. Remarkably, Brook’s early career stats suggest he might even have outpaced the Indian maestro in terms of impact at the same stage,” he added.
Chappell lauded Brook for his “simple but devastatingly effective batting method” that has made him one of the most talked about players in the world at the age of 25.
“Much like Tendulkar in his early years, Brook does not move excessively in the crease before the ball is delivered. His stability and minimalistic technique allow him to read the angles of the bowler and adjust his strokes with precision. The result? An extraordinary ability to score from most deliveries, whether they are pitched full, short or on an awkward length,” he added.
Additionally, Chappell noted that Tendulkar’s genius during his heyday was mostly focused on getting runs on both sides of the wicket and taking advantage of a bowler’s pace.
“Brook, though a bigger and more powerful player physically, has a strikingly similar ability to manipulate the field with wristy flicks, crunching drives, and punishing back-foot shots. It is a simple method, but simplicity often breeds greatness,” he added.
Chappell went on to compare Sachin’s and Brook’s first 15 Test matches, noting that Sachin amassed 837 runs at an average of slightly under 40 with two hundreds, while Brook amassed 1,378 runs at an average of over 60 with five tons.
“To be fair, Sachin was still a teenager while Brook is in his mid-20s,” he added.
Brook’s ability to “combine aggression with consistency” makes him a nightmare to bowl to, according to Chappell.
“Much like Tendulkar, he’s incredibly hard to contain. For England, he is not just a bright prospect, he is a player around whom their future could be built,” he added.
Chappell also noted that under Stokes, England is playing with an “infectious swagger”.
“They do not just aim to win, they aim to dominate. This attitude, coupled with McCullum’s aggressive philosophies, has allowed England to forge a fearless and entertaining team identity.”
“Brook embodies this new ethos: he bats with a sense of inevitability. Bowlers know he will score, but they do not know how to stop him. This psychological edge cannot be overstated. By the time Brook walks to the crease, the fielding side is already under pressure,” he concluded.