Harry Brook to make Yorkshire comeback in early Championship rounds

Harry Brook will play for Yorkshire at the start of the County Championship season, after withdrawing from the IPL in order to be close to his grieving family.

Brook, 25, was expected to play for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024 after being bought for INR 4 crore (£380,000) at the December auction in Dubai. But he withdrew from the tournament earlier this month following the death of his grandmother Pauline, with whom he shared a close relationship.

He is yet to play competitive cricket in 2024, having also withdrawn from England's recent Test tour of India. But he will now prepare for June's T20 World Cup by playing for Yorkshire in the County Championship, with their head coach Ottis Gibson suggesting he will be available from the start.

Yorkshire's opening match of the season begins on April 5 at Headingley against Leicestershire. “Now that Brooky will not be participating in the IPL, I think he will be available for us for the first few matches, including [against] Leicestershire,” Gibson told the Yorkshire website.

Brook said in a statement upon his withdrawal from the IPL that “nothing is more important to me than family”. His decision to stand down will allow him to be with them in Yorkshire while continuing to play competitively.

Gibson also hinted that Joe Root would be made available for some early season matches by the ECB, having himself withdrawn from IPL 2024. “He [Brook] “I love playing for us, and Rooty will be available for some games early on as well,” Gibson said. “Having those two play for us would be special.”