Harry Brook urges England Test debut against ‘best of all time’ James Anderson

Harry Brook is keen to match up against an impressive bowling tackle in Lancashire that could include international sailors James Anderson, Hasan Ali and Saqib Mahmood

Yorkshire star Harry Brook is looking forward to testing himself against a Lancashire bowling attack led by “best tests sealer ever” in James Anderson in the Roses derby match later this week.

Brook has had a stellar start to the County Championship season, with the 23-year-old currently the leading run scorer in Division One. He has 635 runs overall with a 158.75 average in six innings, with his lowest score of 56 not coming against Gloucestershire.

As a result, he was tipped by Kevin Pietersen to make his England Test debut this summer, while Yorkshire head coach Ottis Gibson said he felt Brook was “playing the best in the country at the moment”.

Finishing fifth after new captain Ben Stokes confirmed he would move down the order to sixth, Brook makes a compelling case for selection.

And racing against an international-caliber bowling assault that could include Anderson, Pakistani star Hasan Ali, recent England debutant Saqib Mahmood and long-running favorite Matt Parkinson would be hugely impressive.

Before the duel, Brook said: “It’s probably a really good time for me to start scoring runs. There will probably be some changes in this England team and if I get picked that will be great.

“Lancashire basically have a test attack so anyone who gets runs against these guys is obviously a very good player. They’ve got probably the best Testsealer that’s ever lived and a few caps left, so it’s going to be a challenge this week.

“But I feel good batting at the moment. Having gained a bit more experience over the winter I think I’ve matured, I know my game a little better now and I know how to try to score runs in first class cricket.

“If I’m selected [by England], I am chosen; If not, I just keep playing for Yorkshire and trying to get runs for them. I don’t pursue anything too dramatically.”