“I am not a fan of someone batting outside off-stump” - Kumar Sangakkara recommends World No.1 Test batter to alter his technique

England middle-order batter Harry Brook, who emerged as the World No.1 batter in the newly released ICC Test rankings after his Birmingham Test knock, faltered badly for 11 runs on Day 1 of the Lord’s Test against India.

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While Brook was dismissed twice by Akash Deep with incoming deliveries via bowled and LBW in the second Test in Birmingham, he was once again undone by Jasprit Bumrah with a delivery that came on to him to get bowled. 

Former Sri Lankan batting legend, who was part of the commentary team at that point of time, has stated that Brook should alter his batting technique slightly in order not to get dismissed in a similar fashion, adding that he is not a fan of the current technique. 

“He [Brook] always sets up outside off stump, and it's worked for him so far. But I'm not a fan of someone batting outside off stump. It just opens up too many opportunities for fast bowlers, pad and stumps, and it also aligns you too straight. I would go much rather the Joe Root way, stay [with the] bat inside his stumps and actually align and hit the ball where it should be going,” Sangakkara said on Sky Sports Cricket.

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“It's kind of a trade-off. It's worked for him so far but now in two Tests we've seen that the Indians have used it as an opportunity. And now he's got to counter it. Either he's got to bat outside his crease, where he can get closer to the ball; use his feet, but those are options that he's tried before,” he added.

"I'd much rather see him bat on middle, perhaps slightly closer to off stump if he wants. That's where he starts, but staying beside the ball, inside his stumps to me is always better because it opens up the off side and also allows you to play balls that seam into the bat better,” he concluded.

It’s important to note that Brook is second-leading run-scorer for England in the ongoing five-match Test series, amassing 291 runs from five innings, which includes a century and a 99-run knock.

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