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Stuart Broad has questioned Harry Brook’s lack of playfulness after the England batsman “gifted” his wicket to Australia in the first innings. second ashes test,
Brook leads with England at 122-3 on the first day at The GabbaAnd began to build a promising partnership with Joe Root in favorable batting conditions in Brisbane.
But as the sun set on this day-night Test, Australia captain Steve Smith recalled pink-ball maestro Mitchell Starc into the bowling attack, and Starc immediately dismissed Brook with a wide ball, making 31 off 33 balls.
Brook is the world No. 2 men’s Test batsman according to the ICC rankings and is one of the most talented players across all formats of the game. But he has managed to score only one century in his last nine Test innings, often getting out cheaply after scoring early runs.
Speaking on Australia’s Channel 7, Broad said, “He has played 31 Test matches so far.” He said, “He is not a player who starts his Test match career.
“I just look at his last three Test matches: India won the game at the Oval, he scored a brilliant century and he scored a run in mid-off and England lost that Test match by six runs; then he played beautifully in Perth. [in] inning one; Innings two, Australia were coming back into the game and played a loose drive and he was out; And one such incident happens this afternoon.
“Is he recognizing the game scenario? That’s a very important thing about Test match cricket. Does he know what’s happening at that moment in a Test match?”
“Today we are entering the twilight period [against] Australia, Mitchell Starc, their best bowler. The partnership is growing and he plays a loose drive on the very first ball. And on top of that, you then expose your captain, [Ben] Stokes, who is struggling against Starc in the twilight period.”
Broad asked the England dressing room to call Brook aside and consider the state of the game.
“For me to have some question marks over it – maybe as a teammate – and say, ‘Harry, do we know what’s happening in the game at the moment? We’re not just batting, we’re not just netting. This is Ashes Test match cricket, it’s serious, you’re too good a player to gift your wicket to Australia.’
“It feels like some of the dismissals are a free gift.”
Despite Brook’s departure, England steadied the ship to reach stumps at 325-9 with the help of Joe Root’s maiden century on Australian soil and a late boundary from Jofra Archer.