England cricket great Stuart Broad has questioned the match awareness of Harry Brook after he played another rash shot on the opening day of the second Ashes Test. And Ben Stokes is also copping plenty of criticism for seemingly throwing his wicket away at the Gabba.
Joe Root finally broke through for his first Test century on Australian soil, going to stumps on 135 not out on Thursday night. England finished the day at 9-325, but they could be looking at a much larger first-innings total if not for some baffling dismissals.
Harry Brook’s (L) dismissal means Joe Root’s (R) century might count for nothing if England don’t post a bigger total. Image: Getty
Brook raced to 31 off 33 balls and looked very comfortable, but played a wild shot at a wide delivery from Mitchell Starc and edged to Steve Smith at second slip. It’s not the first time he’s lost his wicket at an ill-opportune time, and Broad publicly questioned him in commentary for Channel 7.
At that stage, England were 3-176 and looking strong, but Brook’s dismissal brought the Aussies back into the game at a crucial period where batting was about to get harder. “Is Harry Brook aware of what’s happening at that time in the Test match?” Broad asked on Seven.
“Today we are getting to the twilight period, or into the twilight period, Australia bring Mitchell Starc back, the best bowler, the only bowler that, let’s be honest, has been really threatening on this surface. The partnership is growing. The first ball he faces off him, he plays a loose drive.”
Ben Stokes and Harry Brook are both copping it for their dismissals. Image: Getty
RELATED:
Broad added: “On top of that, you expose your captain, Ben Stokes, who is struggling against Mitchell Starc, to Mitchell Starc in the twilight period. To me there needs to be a couple of question marks about that.
“You need to have a discussion, probably more as a teammate, less as a coach, and go ‘Harry, are we aware of what’s happening in the game right now? We are not just batting, this is Ashes Test cricket, this is really serious stuff. You are too good of a player to gift Australia your wicket’.
“Because we’ve watched today. He played some shots that even you as Australians must go ‘wow, he’s got some talent’. It just feels like some of the dismissals are freebies.”
Nasser Hussain said on Sky Sports: “[Root] was actually getting a bit frustrated with Harry Brook. I thought Harry was away with the fairies a bit today. Joe a couple of times hit it when there were easy runs, and Joe was like, ‘Why aren’t we running here?’ And next ball, he (Brook) nicked it.”
Ben Stokes under fire for needless run-out
Brook wasn’t alone in copping criticism for the manner of his dismissal. Stokes looked set on 19 off 49 balls when he effectively ran himself out going for a quick single.
The England captain set off after hitting the ball to Josh Inglis, but was sent back by Root who thought there wasn’t a run there. Inglis threw down the stumps from side-on to find Stokes short of his ground.
While some thought Root should have trusted his captain and gone for the run, many were critical of Stokes for taking an unnecessary risk. Stokes’ dismissal made it 5-210, and the Aussies got Jamie Smith, Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse not long after to make it 9-264.
The Aussies were sitting pretty and looked like bowling England out for less than 300, but a 61-run partnership between Root and Jofra Archer before the close of play saved their blushes. The tourists got to 325 at stumps, but many were left wondering what could have been had Brook and Stokes been a bit smarter.
The Gabba pitch looks fairly flat and good for batting, and England will likely be ruing not making 400-plus. If England don’t go on to win the Test, Root’s stunning century will ultimately count for nothing.
Michael Vaughan said on Fox Cricket at stumps: “There were a few iffy shots. England have probably got to look at their approach to Mitchell Starc in some ways, they don’t need to go attacking him.”