England icon Wayne Rooney has revealed the eye-watering details behind his biggest Manchester United contract – leaving the Stick To Football pundits stunned. The forward will go down as one of the greatest players this country has ever produced and many will argue he deserved to get paid as well as he did. But the disparity between his salary and that of his peers left some in shock.

Rooney puts together glittering career

While Rooney has not had much success in management, following his dismissals at Birmingham City and Plymouth Argyle, few can argue about what he achieved as a player. He won five Premier League titles and a Champions League, along with a host of other silverware. The 40-year-old picked up a hatful of individual accolades, scored 53 goals in 120 games for England, and found the net on 313 occasions in 763 appearances. Across his career, greats of the game waxed lyrical about him.

For instance, former team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo said: "He was the kid of England, everyone loved him. He was so powerful, I was calling him ‘Pitbull.’ The power of Wayne Rooney is his mentality and strength, and he never stops. He’s a fantastic team player, and he scores. He’s a fantastic boy, and he helped me a lot when he came to join us in Manchester."

Ronaldo's greatest of all time rival, Lionel Messi, believed that what Rooney could do on a football pitch was "very special".

The Argentine admitted: "There has always been a great deal of respect between myself and Wayne Rooney. For me, he is the great English player of the generation. What he is capable of doing on the field is very special, and he is one of the few players that would improve any squad in Europe."

And Arsenal great Thierry Henry said the consistently high level Rooney produced in his career was "extraordinary".

He added: "To play well for six months or a season in football is nothing. To do so for over a decade like Rooney is extraordinary. I know what it takes, and it isn’t easy. Trust me, people talk about him outside of this country. In Spain and France, he is appreciated as a top, top player."

AdvertisementGetty Images SportRooney's enormous salary revealed

In an enlightening chat about how players brokered deals in their playing days, Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Ian Wright, and Roy Keane were lost for words when Rooney talked about the biggest contract he signed at United. In 2014, when Rooney was 28 going on 29, the ex-Everton ace signed a five-year deal with reported wages of around £300,000. And on Stick to Football, Rooney said he got £17 million ($22m) a year after that bit of business. With the ex-footballers blown away by this figure, Neville quipped that he wished he had used an agent during his contract negotiations with the Red Devils. The right-back said he earned a basic salary of £1.75m that rose to £2.25m.

He added: "[Money] was never a focus for me. I never once worried about the money side of it. I just thought that if I can get to the end of my career at 35 or 36 at United then I know I'll be alright. When they offered me seven years on less money, it was better for me than signing for four years on higher money. I always thought in a more cautious way."

Carragher piped up that his biggest deal was around £3m and Keane said he earned around £5m at his peak. 

Rooney 'did it all'

Rooney retired from playing in the 2020/21 season with Championship side Derby County, with the veteran then taking up the role of Rams manager. Ergo, many football fans growing up now will not have seen him in his pomp. But the plaudits that came his way give some indication as to how good a player he was. 

Former England and United team-mate Rio Ferdinand once said: "I laid eyes on him when he was 16 or 17 years old, and I remember after an England game as well, I said to his mum and dad in the players’ lounge ‘make sure he signs for Manchester United'. They looked at me and laughed and thought, ‘we have already done that’. What a player. He did it all, he scored a ridiculous amount of goals, scored absolute bangers from anywhere on the pitch, great passer, aggressive, passion, desire, work rate."

Rooney's former manager, David Moyes, got to see him make the grade at the Toffees, and knew he had something very special on his hands.

"There was a day when we had him in training. He was only a young boy and we had to set up a small-sided game and Wayne chipped a goalkeeper from near the byline. It was a moment when we all looked at each other and said, ‘Did he really do that? Did that happen?’. We knew it before, but when we saw that happen we all thought ‘there is a real special talent here," he said.

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Getty Images SportWhat comes next for Rooney?

For the time being, Rooney has put his managerial career on hold and is giving punditry a go once again. He has a podcast with the BBC and is a Match of the Day pundit, along with other gigs. But another foray in the dugout may be at the back of his mind, too.

Chelsea defensive midfielder Moises Caicedo has been one of the standout performers for Enzo Maresca in the Premier League in the 2025/26 campaign.

The 24-year-old star, who signed for a club-record £115m from Brighton in 2023, has scored three goals in 11 matches in the top-flight, whilst averaging 5.5 tackles and interceptions per game, per Sofascore, which is a club-high.

Caicedo offers an exceptional box-to-box presence with the goal threat and defensive quality that he provides in the middle of the park, which makes him such an important player for Maresca.

The Ecuador international arrived at Stamford Bridge as a proven Premier League star, thanks to his time with Brighton, and the club are now reportedly looking to repeat that feat.

Chelsea want to sign one of the best midfielders in the Premier League

In theory, signing players from other clubs in England is preferable to signing from abroad because they do not need time to adapt to the league or country, which helped Caicedo to hit the ground running when he first arrived at the Blues.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

According to CaughtOffside, Chelsea are interested in a deal to sign Nottingham Forest central midfielder Elliot Anderson to bolster their ranks in the middle of the park.

The Blues are set to fight it out with Manchester United and Manchester City to land the England international in the January transfer window or next summer, after extensive scouting work done on the Tricky Trees star.

The Mirror reported, earlier this month, that Nottingham Forest are expected to demand a fee of up to £120m for the midfield star, and it remains to be seen whether or not Chelsea are willing to pay that much for Anderson.

Why Chelsea should sign Elliot Anderson

The Conference League champions should push to win the race for the Forest star’s signature in the January transfer window because he could be Caicedo 2.0 at Stamford Bridge.

Like the Ecuador international, Anderson would arrive at the club as a Premier League-proven star and as a club-record signing, if he costs as much as the reported £120m.

The 23-year-old star has racked up 92 appearances in the division, per Transfermarkt, and was described by former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel as “one of the best midfielders in the Premier League”, which shows what a former Champions League winner and the current England boss thinks of his talent.

That opinion is also held by former Liverpool defender and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher, who recently sang Anderson’s praises in the clip above.

xAG

0.15

Top 22%

Shot-creating actions

4.18

Top 5%

Progressive passes

8.82

Top 1%

Passes into the final third

8.55

Top 1%

Successful take-ons

1.27

Top 3%

Tackles won

2.64

Top 24%

Passes blocked

1.43

Top 7%

As you can see in the table above, the central midfielder’s statistics in the Premier League this season make it easy to understand why the likes of Tuchel and Carragher rate him so highly.

The England international has proven himself to be one of the top-performing midfielders in the division, particularly with his use of the ball at the base of the midfield, and that is why he could be a fantastic signing for Chelsea.

Pairing Caicedo and Anderson at the base of the midfield could be an exciting prospect for Maresca, as the former brings defensive quality and a goal threat, while the Forest ace offers incredible ball progression, mobility, and creativity.

Chelsea open talks with Premier League star as £26m January deal on the cards

The Blues could now look to one of their London rivals to acquire an exciting new addition.

BySean Markus Clifford Nov 15, 2025

If Chelsea do decide to go through with a January or summer swoop for the English star, his proven quality in the Premier League could allow him to hit the ground running in the same way that Caicedo did.

The seventh over from Bishnoi to Abhishek flipped the match, the forecaster, and LSG’s fate in minutes

Deivarayan Muthu20-May-20251:42

Abhinav: Abhishek an unbelievable hitter of pace and spin

Abhishek Sharma is a six-hitting machine. Since the start of IPL 2024, he has cleared the boundary 114 times in 47 innings in T20 cricket. Only Nicholas Pooran (181) has hit more sixes than Abhishek during this period.In a chase of 206 against Lucknow Super Giants on Monday, four of those Abhishek sixes came off Ravi Bishnoi in the seventh over and decisively swung the game towards Sunrisers Hyderabad. After the end of the powerplay, ESPNcricinfo’s forecaster pegged SRH’s chances of winning at 48.66. After the 26-run seventh over – the most expensive seventh over in IPL history – it surged to almost 80%. Game over for LSG. Season over for LSG.SRH were without Travis Head, who was in quarantine at the hotel after having tested positive for Covid-19, but Abhishek almost single-handedly reminded the world of their all-out intent and explosive power.For most batters, there’s an inherent risk in hitting sixes. But Abhishek isn’t most batters – he has stripped his game down to hitting sixes – with or without Head.”No (didn’t change anything),” Abhishek said after winning the Player-of-the-Match award. “If we would have been batting first, I would have had some other plans but obviously when you’re chasing 200, then you have to use the powerplay and then go from the first ball. And that was the plan – me and Atharva [Taide] had a chat about that. If it’s going to be the first ball, we will see and just knock it around.”If you ask any of the player who is playing international (cricket), probably playing for the last ten years, they would say if you chase 200 something, your powerplay has to be good and you should win the powerplay. That was in my mind and every time you are chasing 200, just wanted to express myself and obviously if I do well, it’s going to go well for the team.”ESPNcricinfo LtdIt went swimmingly well for SRH, despite the early dismissal of Taide, who had replaced Head at the top. Abhishek claimed 35 of the 72 runs SRH had scored in the powerplay, but then LSG had also maximised their powerplay earlier in the day, charging to 69 for 0.Abhishek pulled the trigger in the seventh, facing four balls from Bishnoi and firing all four over the boundary. The wristspinner seemed to be operating with a sound plan: hide wrong’uns away from the left-handed Abhishek, with his sharp angle from over the wicket taking it further away from the batter. Abhishek, though, dismantled Bishnoi’s best-laid plans with his immense reach and unfettered bat-swing, reminiscent of his idol Yuvraj Singh.Related

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Bishnoi had protection at long-off, but Abhishek cleared him with his first hit. The next was tonked over long-on and the third, which was pumped over Bishnoi’s head brought him an 18-ball half-century.Abhishek forced Bishnoi into veering away from his plan and bowl into the pitch and on the stumps. He was ready on the back foot for the variation in line and length, and also had some luck go his way, with his pull eluding Pooran at the midwicket boundary. Just like that, Abhishek changed the game in four balls. His coach Daniel Vettori wasn’t surprised one bit.”I think we’re probably used to it,” Vettori said after SRH chased their target with ten balls and six wickets to spare. “He has been incredible and the big challenge for any team is when he gets through the early stages of his innings and plays spin. Once again tonight, he was exceptional against the spinners and his strike rate is out of this world. So, we know that whenever the opportunity presents itself, he normally takes it on and normally is very successful.”In IPL 2024, Abhishek had nearly killed off a chase against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) with a 27-run over off Mukesh Choudhary in the powerplay. Very few batters around the world have the ability to change games in an over against both pace and spin in T20 cricket.They say batters hit their peak in their late 20s or early 30s, but at 24 Abhishek has already pushed T20 batting to the stuff of dreams. It’s scary to think how good he could be in the years to come.

Kuldeep, Varun give Pakistan back-ten nightmare again

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Sep-2025

Kuldeep Yadav got three wickets in an over•Asian Cricket Council

Nine wickets for 33 runs. Pakistan collapsed from a position of strength in the Asia Cup final. They had no business being bowled out for 146 when they were 113 for 1 with 44 balls left in the innings. Sahibzada Farhan had hit a half-century. Kuldeep Yadav went for 23 in two overs. India were feeling the pressure, missing the services of Hardik Pandya who was out with a quad niggle.But an inexplicable rush of wickets – there was (at least) one every over between the 13th and the 18th, including three in Kuldeep’s final over as he ended his day with a big broad smile – brought a quick and untimely end to their efforts of stringing the perfect game together in the Asia Cup final.Jasprit Bumrah, who was moved to have a few words with the Pakistan batters after they came at him during his first spell, wrapped things up and even included a riposte. He brought down Haris Rauf’s off stump and celebrated it by miming something going down, much like Rauf himself was doing on the boundary last Sunday, seemingly referring to the military conflict between the two countries earlier this year.Varun Chakravarthy was the pick of India’s bowlers. He bowled the high-pressure overs – one in the powerplay, one after Kuldeep was put under pressure, where he picked up Farhan for 57, and later when the collapse was in full flow, he dismissed Fakhar Zaman for 46 as well. Those two were the only Pakistan batters able to score more than 15 runs

Everton scouts have now reportedly been spotted watching Republic of Ireland international Troy Parrott over the break, as he scored twice to shock Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal side.

The Toffees very nearly enjoyed the perfect summer. They welcomed Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Jack Grealish on loan from Manchester City and splashed out on one of their biggest-ever deals to sign Tyler Dibling from Southampton. In many ways, it was a statement from The Friedkin Group ahead of Everton’s move into the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

That statement came without one key part, however, and that was a clinical goalscorer. Those in Merseyside took a £27m gamble on Villarreal’s Thierno Barry, but he’s yet to score a goal for the club. Meanwhile, Beto hasn’t done much better – scoring just twice in 13 games in all competitions.

PL stats 25/26

Barry

Beto

Minutes

386

609

Goals

0

1

Assists

0

0

Expected Goals

1.3

4.1

What’s most concerning about the form of Everton’s strikers is that they’ve both had the chances to record better records than they have done. Barry is without a goal with an XG of 1.3, whilst Beto has significantly underperformed with one goal from a 4.1 XG.

It’s a clear problem that Everton must address for David Moyes in 2026 and a number of targets have already emerged as a result. According to recent reports, the Toffees have so far set their sights on Celtic’s Daizen Maeda, who wants to leave the Scottish club, Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee and Al Ahli’s Ivan Toney.

Related Everton now exploring Ward-Prowse move with January exit expected

The midfielder desperately needs a winter move.

Posts ByTom Cunningham Nov 12, 2025

All three options make sense. Maeda wants to leave Celtic and is reportedly available for just £15m. Zirkzee could offer Everton a repeat of their Grealish revival, whilst Toney may need a Premier League return to boost his World Cup chances.

The list doesn’t end there, however. Joining those aforementioned names, Everton reportedly sent scouts to watch Parrot against Portugal earlier this week.

Everton send scouts to track Troy Parrott

According to Everton News, Everton sent scouts to watch Parrott in action for Ireland against Portugal on Thursday night, as he netted a brace to hand his country a major boost towards their World Cup hopes. In the same game, Ronaldo was handed the first red card of his international career to sum up a shocking night to forget.

On a stage which featured Ronaldo, Bernardo Silva and others, it was Parrot who stole the show to take his goal total to 13 in 14 games for the season. Quite simply, he has been in sensational form for AZ Alkmaar and Ireland.

Compared to Irish legend Robbie Keane by the man himself, Parrott has scored more goals than Beton and Barry combined so far this season and there’s still plenty more to come.

As Everton’s search for a striker goes on, they may hand the former Tottenham Hotspur gem the perfect chance to complete a return to English football.

Everton hatch striker plan as Moyes moves for star with 18 goals this season

England boss Thomas Tuchel says he would consider singing God Save the King at next year's World Cup but joked he is not sure he has earned that right yet. The German was announced as Gareth Southgate's successor just over a year ago, sparking much consternation in certain quarters. But after an upturn in form, Tuchel believes that if the positive results keep coming, he may be singing the English anthem soon.

• Push back over Tuchel appointment

  When Tuchel was sworn in as England's new manager, following a successful and long spell with Southgate at the helm, not everyone was thrilled. Some media outlets wanted a British manager, as did ex-Premier League manager Harry Redknapp. But the former Bayern Munich boss said he was "proud" to take up the challenge of guiding England to their first World Cup triumph since 1966.

  "I am very proud to have been given the honour of leading the England team," he said in October 2024. "I have long felt a personal connection to the game in this country, and it has given me some incredible moments already. To have the chance to represent England is a huge privilege, and the opportunity to work with this special and talented group of players is very exciting. Working closely with Anthony [Barry] as my assistant coach, we will do everything we can to make England successful and the supporters proud. I want to thank The FA, in particular Mark and John, for their trust and I am looking forward to starting our journey together."

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Tuchel feels the love from England

  The German guided Chelsea to Champions League glory in 2021 before being sacked in 2022. He has spent more of his managerial career in Germany but Tuchel admitted he has a certain fondness for England, something that he doesn't always feel in his homeland. 

  He said, "I feel that we are very critical of each other in Germany, especially with players and coaches, not only me. It's very hard to escape it once you're in it… so there is a picture, and this is the picture for years and years. I felt more appreciation in England, yes. This is just a fact."

• Tuchel teases English national anthem singing

  Tuchel is the third non-English manager to take charge of the Three Lions after Sven Goran-Eriksson and Fabio Capello. So, will he sing the English anthem?

  He told reporters on Friday: "I will earn it with results, with building a group, with doing my job properly and by creating a feeling where maybe even you guys say at some point, 'Now it's time that you sing it, it feels like you properly earned it and you're a proper English guy now'. Maybe I have to dive more into the culture and earn my right from you, from the players, from the supporters, so everyone feels like, 'He should sing it now, he's one of our own, he's the English manager, he should sing it'."

  Asked if he believed he had earned the right to sing the national anthem now, he said with a grin: "You think it is already there? I will think about it."

  Asked if he might sing the national anthem at the World Cup, he again smiled and said, "Yeah, maybe. Let's see."

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  What comes next for Tuchel's England?

  England are eyeing a 100 per cent winning record for their World Cup qualifying campaign after beating Serbia 2-0 on Thursday to make it seven wins from seven games. Next up is second-placed Albania on Sunday. The Three Lions are also trying to go the entire campaign without conceding a goal, with Tuchel's side having a goal difference of +20.

  After the Serbia win, Tuchel said: "It was a difficult match. It was complicated because they knew everything about us and we knew nothing about them. Go through the list of players, they are at top clubs, they play in top leagues. They have individual quality, they came with new energy and they made it a final for them. I liked the first half a lot. I think we deserved to go up, I think we deserved to have maybe a second goal with Harry's header. Second-half, we didn't get the pressing right all the time, they escaped sometimes from the deep build-up into fast attacks so the back four had to work hard to keep the clean sheet. We had to overcome some difficult moments but I like it, not everything is easy. Not every win is 2-0, 3-0, 5-0. It is good. We kept a clean sheet and it was decisive in the end."

Aaron Judge continues to etch his name alongside previous Yankee greats as he adds to an already impressive career in pinstripes. The slugger launched his 45th and 46th home runs of the season on Thursday night in a 9–3 victory over the Tigers, bringing his total with the franchise to 361.

That's enough to tie Joe DiMaggio for fourth-most in a Yankees uniform. Earlier in the series against Detroit, Judge passed Yogi Berra with his 359th homer.

Aaron Boone, Judge's longtime manager, spoke after the blasts about what it's like to ride shotgun on such a ride.

"Joe DiMaggio—that feels like that’s been there forever, right?” Boone said. "Joe DiMaggio, in a lot of ways, transcended baseball. To be next to him on the list, he’s going to be waving as he goes by. It’s been a privilege having a front-row seat to that."

Judge's greatness is no secret and at this point he has been doing it awhile. This is his 10th year and everyone that hasn't been cut short due to injury has been filled with incredible power. Still, it is sort of strange to realize in realtime that he will go down in Yankees lore in the same way the names he's chasing and catching have.

MatériaMais Notícias

Após 12 anos, terminou a relação entre Corinthians e Cássio. As partes chegaram a um acordo para antecipar a saída do goleiro, que tem contrato com o clube alvinegro até dezembro deste ano.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasFinançasQual será o salário de Cássio no Cruzeiro? Veja valoresFinanças17/05/2024Fora de CampoDenílson dá sugestão para Cássio, do Corinthians, sobre o futuro: ‘Melhor caminho’Fora de Campo16/05/2024CorinthiansCássio toma decisão sobre futuro e planeja último ato pelo CorinthiansCorinthians15/05/2024

O atleta, agora, vai atuar no Cruzeiro, onde já possui acordo verbal para assinar um contrato por três temporadas — até o fim de 2027.

Para antecipar a sua saída do Timão, Cássio e Carlos Leite, representante do profissionalismo, abriram mão de alguns valores que tinham a receber da equipe do Parque São Jorge. O atleta ainda tinha algumas pendências referentes a direitos de imagem, enquanto o empresário tinha quantias a serem pagas por conta da intermediação de algumas renovações do profissional com o time do Parque São Jorge.

➡️ Vai dar Brasil? Aposte no Lance! Betting e fature com a Copa América

➡️ Siga o Lance! Corinthians no WhatsApp e acompanhe todas as notícias do Timão

No total, a dívida incluindo os dois, ultrapassa R$ 10 milhões. O valor abatido pela liberação não será integral e, portanto, o Corinthians seguirá tendo pendências com a dupla.

continua após a publicidade

Cássio esteve no CT Joaquim Grava nesta sexta-feira (17), mas não treinou em campo. O goleiro fez apenas um trabalho leve na academia.

Ainda que o clima fosse de despedida, o ídolo corintiano não cumprimentou companheiros e funcionários no clube. É aguardada uma cerimônia nos próximos dias, onde o camisa 12 vá se pronunciar em entrevista coletiva e, aproveitará, para dar o adeus às pessoas no Corinthians.

Tudo sobre

Corinthians

يسعى فريق مانشستر سيتي تحت قيادة بيب جوارديولا، لاستعادة توازنه، ويرغب بالتعاقد مع لاعب خط وسط جديد، وقد ارتبط بضم آدم وارتون الذي يعد هدفاً لريال مدريد، لكنه تراجع عن التحرك للحصول على خدماته.

ويثير جود بيلينجهام لاعب خط وسط ريال مدريد، الكثير من الجدل والاهتمام بشأن مستقبله، حيث يقدم أداء لا يرضي تطلعات جماهير الفريق الإسباني منذ بداية الموسم.

وبحسب صحيفة “ديفينسا سنترال” الإسبانية، فإن جود بيلينجهام أصبح حديث الساعة في مانشستر سيتي، حيث يسعى عملاق الدوري الإنجليزي للتعاقد مع اللاعب.

اقرأ أيضًا.. هل عمر مرموش الضحية؟.. مانشستر سيتي يفكر في إبرام صفقة هجومية في يناير

ولا تعد هذه هي المرة الأولى التي يهتم فيها مانشستر سيتي بضم اللاعب، حيث كان يرغب بالحصول على خدمات بيلينجهام خلال فترة لعبه مع بوروسيا دورتموند، لكنه فضل الانتقال إلى ريال مدريد.

ويعاني بيلينجهام مع ريال مدريد، حيث إنه لا يتفق بشكل جيد مع مدربه تشابي ألونسو، على الرغم من أن المدرب الشاب قد نفى وجود علاقة سيئة مع الدولي الإنجليزي.

ومع ذلك لا ينوي ريال مدريد بيع أحد أفضل لاعبيه ويرى النادي الإنجليزي في بيلينجهام أنه قائد ونجم في السنوات القادمة، ويريده أن يبقى بعد عام 2029.

Harry Brook is ever the straight-talking Yorkshireman. He will fly to New Zealand on Friday night to captain six white-ball internationals but knows that there is one question occupying England fans’ minds more than any other: when he returns home from Australia in January, will he bring the Ashes urn with him? His response: “I bloody hope so.”England’s recent record in Australia is dreadful, but their quiet optimism about this winter’s series has been reinforced by the revelation that Pat Cummins is increasingly unlikely to play in the first Test. Australia have played down the severity of his back injury, but Andrew McDonald conceded on Friday that Cummins is “running out of time” before November 21.Cummins’ absence would be a shame for the series, but can only be seen as a boost to England’s chances. Brook said that Australia have “a hell of a lot of good bowlers” who could deputise, but Cummins’ package of leadership, pace and skill is impossible to replicate and England know as much.”He is an amazing bowler and has been for many years,” Brook said at Thursday night’s PCA awards ceremony, in partnership with Toyota. “He bowls at high pace, with high skill. With him out of their side for the first game, from what we’ve seen, hopefully that plays into our hands… [But] we can’t take anybody lightly.”Related

• Harry Brook is going to the Ashes with a clear mind, but how will he fare there?

• Cummins says he's 'less likely than likely' to play in the first Ashes Test

• Brook named as Ashes vice-captain as Jacks wins recall

• Rob Key: Woakes 'not in England's plans at all' after Ashes omission

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The series will be the biggest challenge of Brook’s career to date: it is his second Ashes series, but his first in the country where England have lost 13 of their last 15 Tests. He has built a remarkable away record – he has scored seven hundreds in his first 11 overseas Tests – but has only played in Pakistan and New Zealand, and will head down under with his eyes open.”I don’t know what I’m stepping into,” Brook said. “I know it’s a massive thing, but I’m still trying to get over that India series. That was awesome to be part of: to play 25 days out of 25 was mega. That was the most intense series I’ve ever been part of. If the Ashes tops that, I will be a very happy man.”It is obviously intense. I can’t even remember much about the 2023 Ashes, if I’m honest. It’s a very similar group of players that we’ll come up against: a very strong bowling attack and on home soil they’ll present different challenges. I haven’t had too much experience of the pitches out there, so I have to stay in the moment as much as possible and play what’s in front of me.”England’s series against India was the “most intense” that Brook has experienced•Getty Images

Brook’s experience in Australia is limited to a short spell at Hobart Hurricanes as a 22-year-old where he did “horrendously”, and a walk-on role (56 runs in five innings) in England’s T20 World Cup win three years ago. “I see white-ball and red-ball as completely different sports, if I’m being honest,” he said. “I’m going out there with a clear mind.”He started manically in his first Ashes series, hooking compulsively as England let a strong position slip at Lord’s, but played priceless innings in their wins at Headingley and The Oval to secure a 2-2 draw. His return of 363 runs at 40.33 featured four half-centuries in nine innings, and Brook played down the potential significance of scoring his first Ashes hundred on this tour.”That’s not something I really think about,” he said. “I want to be a match-winner. If the team is in a little bit of trouble, I want to get us out of it, which so far in my career I’ve done fairly well. If that’s getting 75 and getting us out of trouble for a little while and gets the team into a better position, I’d rather that than get a hundred and lose the game.”Brook’s captaincy experience in the white-ball team may yet be called upon in the Ashes•Getty Images

Another potential challenge for Brook in Australia is the prospect of captaining a Test match for the first time, after his appointment as Ben Stokes’ deputy. He described the role as “an honour” but does not expect to be called upon: “I see Stokesy playing all five Tests, if I’m being honest. I think he’ll power through, even if he has a little niggle.”Brook’s promotion means a return to the ranks for Ollie Pope, whose position at No. 3 looks increasingly precarious – even if Brook described him as a “vital part” of England’s side: “I dropped him a couple of messages a couple of weeks ago, talking about golf mainly. I don’t think he’s too bothered. He’s just happy to still be in the squad.”Stokes has not played competitively since damaging a shoulder muscle while attempting to bowl England to victory in the drawn Manchester Test against India; perhaps Brook’s biggest role as deputy will be to save him from himself: “Because he wants to bowl long spells, that can sometimes be to his detriment… Everybody in the world knows what he’s like.”