Both players are featuring in the BPL for different teams. Yet yesterday, David Malan of the Rangpur Riders showed up at Ethan Brooks’ net session with the Sylhet Titans. For nearly half an hour, Malan threw balls to Brooks and offered batting tips intermittently.
Malan has represented England in all three formats, while Brooks is a rising player from the same country. They do share one thing in common—their experience playing abroad began with domestic cricket in Bangladesh. Malan openly admits that playing in the Dhaka Premier League had changed him significantly, and he had advised Brooks to play there as well.
Malan isn’t the only one; the list of players who played domestic cricket in Bangladesh before making it to the England national team is long. Jofra Archer, Will Jacks, and Jason Roy all participated in the BPL while still far from the national team.
“I always say, if someone is good enough to play for England, they will eventually play. I’m just trying to enjoy the BPL,” said Ethan Brooks.
When asked if he could be the next new name on that path, Brooks smiled and replied, “It’s true that many inexperienced players have come here, gained experience, and then played for the national team. But I always say, if someone is good enough for England, they will play. So I’m just trying to enjoy the BPL. You’ll always see me smiling on the field and having fun.”
Brooks’ teammate in Sylhet Titans is Moeen Ali, who also gave him this BPL opportunity. Brooks knows Moeen through Moeen’s brother, Kadeer Ali, who coaches his batting at Yorkshire County. For years, Moeen had been helping Brooks find opportunities in foreign leagues. Following his advice, Sylhet Titans signed Brooks after he had played 24 first-class matches and scored three centuries.
The BPL has become an enjoyable stage for Brooks. “The fans here are crazy, which I didn’t expect. They are giving me so much support, and I hope I can repay them by winning matches,” he said.
While Brooks hasn’t yet delivered a match-winning performance for Sylhet, his spontaneous presence on the field is hard to miss. Whether it’s an outstanding catch or a small but impressive innings, his contributions regularly make their way to friends and family in England via social media.
Off the field, Brooks spends most of his time studying. Alongside cricket, he is pursuing a degree in Sports Science, which he is set to complete by April.
As part of his studies, Brooks has been analyzing injury histories of county cricket players. “I look at what kind of injuries players get during the season, how different formats or schedules affect injuries. It’s not exactly relaxing, but it keeps me occupied,” he said.
Brooks hopes to build a career entirely in cricket and not have to choose another path. “I hope my cricket career will be long. But in case of injury or a dip in form, I’m finishing my studies as a backup,” he explained.
He is also trying to understand the local culture in Bangladesh. During this BPL season, he observed assistant coach Mahbub Ali Zakir standing during the funeral of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, and he also attended other solemn events. These experiences have left an impression on Brooks. “Seeing death up close on the field was very moving. It made me realize how fragile life is. I stood there to pay my respects, because as a human being, I feel everyone deserves that,” he said.
