England Batter Harry Brook Withdraws From Upcoming India Series, Announces Board

Due to personal circumstances, England batsman Harry Brook has withdrawn from the next tour of India, the cricket board said on Sunday, January 21. The English team hopes to win their first series in India since 2012. Brook's withdrawal is a setback. England has not yet announced the batter's replacement. Although Brook is out, ESPNCricinfo noted that he might play again.

"Harry Brook is set to return home with immediate effect for personal reasons from the England Men's Test tour of India. He will not return to India," read the England Cricket Board (ECB) statement.

"The Brook family respectfully requests privacy during this time. In light of this, the ECB and the family kindly request the media and the public to respect their wish for privacy and refrain from intruding on their private space," it added.

Brook has been outstanding since making his England debut, amassing 1,181 runs at an average of 62 in 12 games, including four hundreds. Ben Foakes and Jonny Bairstow have a chance to start in his place.

Former England skipper on tackling Indian spinners

In the forthcoming Test series, former England captain Kevin Pietersen cautioned the traveling English team about being bowled by Indian spinners or put out for a long time. The Indian squad includes four spinners and will begin the five-Test series in Hyderabad on January 25. Notably, Pietersen was a member of the English team that lost the Test series against India in 2012.

India have named Ravi Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, and Axar Patel in the squad.

The second Test will be held at Visakhapatnam on February 2 after Hyderabad, and the tour will then travel to Rajkot, Ranchi, and Dharamsala for the remaining three Tests.