"People took that a little bit the wrong way" - Harry Brook on his comments from opening game after match-winning hundred in ENG vs AUS 2024 3rd ODI
England's stand-in captain Harry Brook believes fans took his comments from their loss in the first ODI against Australia in the wrong way. The 25-year-old's latest statement came following the third ODI against Australia at Chester-le-Street as England leveled the series, winning by 46 runs via the DLS method.
The hosts were under pressure after the second ODI as they had conceded a 0-2 lead and had to chase down a formidable 305 for victory to keep the five-match series alive. However, Brook came up with the goods as he slammed an unbeaten hundred, with the hosts well ahead of the target when it started raining.
With the Yorkshire cricketer claiming after the first ODI that they care less about being caught while clearing the boundary, he explained it was more about having a fearless approach.
"People took that a little bit the wrong way. You have got to go out and play fearlessly and almost have that who cares attitude. That is not who cares if we lose. We still want to win but you don't want to go out there and have a fear of getting out. We have seen so many times in the Test environment, the way people are getting out. You have got to have that fearless attitude and take it to the bowlers," Brook said as per BBC.
Brook had joined Will Jacks when they were 11/2, having lost their openers Ben Duckett and Phil Salt cheaply. The 156-run partnership proved to be the match-defining one as the hosts motored along comfortably before another destructive unbroken stand of 57 with Liam Livingstone.
"I was just trying to play the ball as late as possible" - Harry Brook
Brook added he feels in a good place after failing to convert several starts over the summer.
"I was just trying to play the ball as late as possible and build a partnership with Jacksy. I was knackered when I got out there after 50 overs in the field. I feel I have been stop-start this summer, a lot of 30 and 40s, not managing to convert. I feel I am back in a good place, playing the ball late and with my head still," he said in the same interaction.
England and Australia will lock horns in the fourth ODI at Lord's on Friday, September 27.