England batsman Brook leaving tour of India for personal reasons

London,  21 Jan - Middle-order batsman Harry Brook is to leave England's tour of India and return home "with immediate effect for personal reasons", the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said in a statement on Sunday.

"The Brook family respectfully requests privacy during this time," the ECB said.

"In light of this, the ECB and the family kindly request the media and the
public to respect their wish for privacy and refrain from intruding on their
private space."

The 24-year-old, who has made four centuries in his 12 Tests, was expected to
be in the line-up for the first Test which starts in Hyderabad on Thursday.

Dan Lawrence, who played the last of his 11 Tests in 2022, has been named as
Brook's replacement.

The 26-year-old made a Test best 91 against the West Indies in Bridgetown in
March 2022 but has not played since that tour.
 
He has, however, been in Test squads under head coach Brendon McCullum,
including for the 2023 Ashes.

Lawrence is expected to arrive in India on Monday but England are now likely
to play both wicketkeepers, Jonny Bairstow and Ben Foakes, in the first Test,
rather than choosing between them.