England announce debutant for third Test against South Africa
A freak injury to Bairstow has paved the way for the talented 23-year-old Brook to make his Test debut at the Kennington Oval on Thursday.
Brook, who is at the top of the County Championship Division one runs table with 967 runs at an average of 107.44 including three tons, also slammed a 140 against South Africa for England Lions in the practice match in Canterbury.
Bairstow, who will miss the Test and the ICC Men's T20 World Cup next month in Australia with a lower limb injury, is England's highest run-scorer in Tests this year with 1061 runs at an average of 66.31 with six hundreds.
The series is tied 1-1 with the loss in Manchester pushing South Africa down from the top spot in the ICC World Test Championship standings.
England XI for Oval Test: Alex Lees, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes, Ben Foakes, Stuart Broad, Ollie Robinson, Jack Leach, James Anderson