England suffer huge setback as talented batsman Harry Brook returns home from five-Test series against India due to personal reasons

England suffered a serious setback to their hopes of pulling off a surprise win in India when Harry Brook was ruled out of the five-Test series.

Brook will return home immediately for personal reasons and will not return to India for a series that begins in Hyderabad on Thursday and represents the ultimate test of their Bazball style that has transformed their Test game.

The hugely talented Yorkshireman is a big part of that having exploded onto the international scene last winter in Pakistan and New Zealand following his Test debut against South Africa the previous summer.

England put out a statement Sunday morning in which they asked for privacy for Brook, 24, and his family while he returns from their training camp in Abu Dhabi.

They are due to arrive in Hyderabad on Sunday night for just three days preparation in India before they take on a home side unbeaten in 16 Test series in their own conditions.

Brook is undoubtedly one of England’s best batsman and they will have to replace him with Ollie Pope and Jonny Bairstow in the middle order, with Ben Foakes keeping wicket

India are unbeaten in 16 Test-series at home and pose a significant threat both with the bat and ball

Brook will leave a big hole in the England middle order where it now seems certain that both Ollie Pope and Jonny Bairstow will play in Hyderabad with Ben Foakes keeping wicket. 

Previously it looked as though one of the batsmen would have to miss out.

A replacement in the squad will be named in due course but will almost certainly come from the Lions party currently in Ahmedabad taking on India A. 

Keaton Jennings and Alex Lees both have Test experience and scored runs in the first unofficial Test, as did Lions captain Josh Bohannon.

But England went outside their Lions squad and named Dan Lawrence as the replacement for Brook. Surrey’s new signing from Essex will join the squad in Hyderabad on Monday from Dubai where he has been playing in the IL20 tournament.