"Harry Brook might cringe a little bit at saying what he actually said" - Sir Alastair Cook after ENG vs AUS 2024 1st ODI
Former England skipper Sir Alastair Cook has warned Harry Brook that he might see his comments from the post-match presentation of the first ODI against Australia on Thursday, September 19, differently in the coming years. Cook also opined that England failed to make correct decisions according to the match situation.
England posted 315 in 49.4 overs but were on course for more in the 33rd over mark. However, a few set batters played some overly attacking shots, leading to a collapse that saw the hosts eventually lose the game.
With Brook encouraging England to maintain the same aggression without the fear of being dismissed, the former opener believes it was a 'bad answer' and that the hosts weren't good enough with the bat.
He said on the BBC Test Match Special:
"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. 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," Cook added.
While the surface encouraged the spinners, England's three tweakers - Adil Rashid, Liam Livingstone, and Jacob Bethell - weren't incisive enough. Travis Head top-scored with an unbeaten 54 and took Australia home in only 44 overs alongside Marnus Labuschagne (77*).
What were Harry Brook's actual comments?
At the post-match presentation, the Yorkshire cricketer claimed not to be 'too fussed' about batters losing their wickets while trying to hit sixes. Brook reflected that England's motive is to entertain the spectators and will continue to play this way.
"We are out there to score runs. If you get caught somewhere on the boundary or in the field then who cares? On another day that could go for six so I'm not too fussed about that. Obviously it was grabbing in the pitch but another day we hit them for six. They hit a few in the air and they landed safely so a little bit unlucky. We want to entertain like I have said a few times. Obviously we care but if you get out trying to score runs that's the way we want to play," he said.
England will look to level the five-game series in the second ODI in Leeds on Saturday, September 21.