Former England captain Alastair Cook has labelled England's batting performance in the opening ODI of the series against Australia as "not good enough" and criticised stand-in captain Harry Brook's response to the collapse.
England lost to Australia by seven wickets at Trent Bridge yesterday (September 19) after setting the tourists 316 to get. Having been 213-2 in the 33rd over, England lost all of their remaining wickets to spin and were bowled out with two balls remaining in their innings. Both Ben Duckett, who fell just five runs short of a second ODI century, and Brook were out softly caught and bowled off Marnus Labuschagne. Jamie Smith, Liam Livingstone and Jacob Bethell all holed out looking for big shots.
In response, Travis Head scored his seventh ODI century and finished on 152*, as he and Labuschagne got Australia over the line with six overs to spare.
Following the match, Brook was interviewed on BBC Test Match Special and, in response to being asked about England's approach with the bat, said: "We are out there to score runs. If you get caught somewhere on the boundary or in the field, then who cares?"
He then clarified: "Obviously we care, but if you get out trying to score runs that's the way we want to play."
Stand-in captain Harry Brook downplays concerns over England's dismissals after their loss to Australia in the first ODI.
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) September 20, 2024
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Cook, who is a pundit on Test Match Special, was unimpressed by Brook's choice of words in his answer. Brook is captaining England in place of Jos Buttler for the series, with the regular captain kept out with a calf injury.
"I think if he has his time again in a few years time as captain, Harry Brook might cringe a little bit at saying what he actually said," said Cook. "He gave a bad answer to a question about not minding being caught on the boundary. I understand what he is trying to say. He's trying to give that message about taking the right option. Ultimately, they have to be better at recognising the pitch they are on. They messed up from 200-2 and were not good enough with the bat."
England will play the second ODI of the series tomorrow (September 21) at Headingley. Matching Brook as temporarily in charge of the side is Marcus Trescothick, who is presiding over the series as interim head coach before Brendon McCullum takes on the role alongside his red-ball job later in the year.
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