Harry Brook ranks among the best in both Test and T20 formats.

There is a popular Bengali proverb: "The one who cooks also ties her hair"—meaning a single person is skilled in multiple tasks. Harry Brook has become a living embodiment of this saying in the world of cricket. This English batsman, who tops the Test batting rankings, also features in the top ten for T20s. Brook is currently the only cricketer to hold a spot in the top ten of the rankings for both formats simultaneously.

Brook leads the Test rankings with 861 rating points and holds the ninth position in the T20 rankings. Yet, Test cricket and T20s are vastly different formats; one demands patience, concentration, and the ability to bat for extended periods, while the other requires aggressive batting capable of shifting the match's momentum in just a few deliveries.

Brook has excelled not only with the bat but also in leadership. Since taking over as England's T20 captain, the team has won 23 out of 26 matches under his guidance. He also performed brilliantly in the recent three-match series against Sri Lanka, scoring 170 runs—including a century—to be named Player of the Series. His contributions not only secured the series win but also propelled England to the top of the T20 rankings.

Being in the top ten of both Test and T20 rankings simultaneously is not entirely unprecedented. However, what makes Brook unique is that he is not merely playing in both formats but is consistently performing well in both.

Following Brook in the Test rankings are Steve Smith, Joe Root, Travis Head, and Temba Bavuma. Apart from Head, the others are either not currently playing T20s or are not in the selectors' plans for that format. Conversely, players in the top five of the T20 rankings—such as Ishan Kishan, Abhishek Sharma, Sahibzada Farhan, Phil Salt, and Dewald Brevis—are not regulars in Test cricket.

So, how does Brook maintain his standing in both formats? The 27-year-old English captain explained this himself during a press conference following the Sri Lanka series: his priority is to play for England as much as possible. He has also decided not to play regularly in any franchise cricket league other than The Hundred.

For Brook, the primary goal is to stay fit and play for England as much as possible. Amidst a packed international schedule and the pressures of franchise cricket, this decision allows him to remain a regular fixture in both formats.

However, mere regularity does not guarantee success across two formats. This is precisely where Brook’s true achievement lies—whether it is the patient game required for Tests or the explosive batting of T20s, the English star has established himself as one of the best in the world in both arenas.