Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has heaped praise on England’s rising star, Harry Brook, labeling him the "best batter in the world" following Brook's meteoric rise in Test cricket. Brook, who recently became the top-ranked Test batter, overtaking fellow Englishman Joe Root, has impressed with his prolific performances, particularly in overseas conditions.

Brook’s remarkable eighth Test century in the second Test against New Zealand solidified his position at the top of the rankings, and his ability to score runs consistently away from home has caught the attention of cricket legends like Ponting. Speaking on The ICC Review, Ponting expressed his admiration for the 25-year-old, who made his Test debut in 2022 against South Africa.

"He probably is [the best Test batter in the world] right now," Ponting said. "He is doing some pretty amazing things, and most of them he is doing away from home."

Ponting highlighted Brook’s consistency, noting that seven of his eight centuries have come in overseas conditions, a testament to the young batter’s adaptability. "It's the way he gets his runs, with class and he gets them quickly under this new regime, and I love watching him play," Ponting added.

Brook's impressive rise in international cricket has drawn comparisons with some of the game’s greats. Despite his struggles during the IPL 2023 season with Sunrisers Hyderabad, Ponting saw immense potential in Brook, spending INR 4 crore to acquire him during the IPL 2024 auction. 

However, Brook opted out of the 2024 IPL due to personal reasons, but Ponting remains confident in his abilities.

"I got him in the IPL auction last year because I think he's a generational type of player," Ponting stated. "I think he's really starting to show that now at Test level, and I think he can do the same across all three formats." Ponting said.