Harry Brook’s comments after England’s loss to Australia in the first one-day international sparked more conversation than the defeat itself. Following several dismissals in the deep at Trent Bridge, Brook, filling in as captain, remarked, “If you get caught somewhere on the boundary or in the field then who cares?” This led to a wave of social media backlash, with many suggesting England’s players lacked the drive to win.
However, Brook’s performance in the third match at Chester-le-Street painted a different picture. His brilliant, unbeaten century not only secured a victory for England but kept the series alive. Reflecting on the criticism, Brook explained, “People misunderstood what I meant. You have to play fearlessly and almost adopt a ‘who cares’ mindset, but that doesn’t mean we don’t want to win. It’s about not fearing getting out.”
Stepping in as captain in place of the injured Jos Buttler, Brook is eager to instill the same aggressive mindset that has been so successful for England’s Test team under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum. “We’ve seen in Test matches how important it is to play without fear and take on the bowlers,” Brook added.
Brook’s century was notably different from his approach in Nottingham, where he aggressively hit 39 from 31 balls before being caught by Marnus Labuschagne. This time, arriving at 11-2, Brook paced himself, beginning at 4.6 runs per over before accelerating to 7.6 in the next 30 balls, and finally finishing at a rate of nine runs per over, compiling a flawless 110 not out.
Though his knock seemed like a defining moment in his ODI career, Brook remained modest, downplaying any major shift in his game. “I was just focusing on playing the ball as late as possible and building a partnership with Jacksy (Will Jacks),” he said. He also admitted to feeling exhausted after spending 50 overs in the field.
Brook’s century came at a crucial time, as he had faced a tough end to the summer. Since his century in the second Test against the West Indies, he had struggled to convert starts, failing to score more than 56. He faced criticism after the third Test against Sri Lanka for playing with what some saw as overconfidence.
Reflecting on his recent form, Brook acknowledged, “It’s been a bit of a stop-start summer for me. I’ve had a lot of 30s and 40s without converting, but I feel like I’m back in a good place now, keeping my head still and playing the ball late.”
Brook’s ability to keep things simple at the crease remains one of his greatest strengths, and this performance was a timely reminder of that talent.