Home
After getting off to a horrendous start which saw them lose both Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope for ducks, England's innings was stabilized by the duo of Zak Crawley and Joe Root on the opening day of the second Ashes Test. After the former was dismissed for 76 runs by Michael Neser, Harry Brook stepped up to bat.
Brook gifts Starc with his wicket
The duo of Root and Brook were expected to form a strong partnership as England tried to gain complete control on Day 1. They started well and formed a valiant partnership of 54 runs, however Brook ended up losing his wicket to Mitchell Starc at an important part of the day by playing a reckless shot. He departed back to the pavilion for 31 runs as England got restricted down to 176/4.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan was left disappointed with the fall of Brook's wicket and criticised the batter for gifting Australia with a wicket.
“Oh Harry. The way that England have played in the last hour has got them right in control, Starc has been waiting to come on. They’ve waited and waited, Australia, for Starc to come on and within two balls Harry Brook’s played that monstrous drive, gifted Australia a wicket," Vaughan said while commentating for BBC’s Test Match Special.
Broad also criticised Brook
On the other hand, legendary England pacer Stuart Broad was also critical of Brook and highlighted how he has lost his wicket by playing reckless shots on the last three occasions in Tests. He also remarked that the batter hasn't been able to recognise the game's scenario in his last few innings.
“He’s not starting out his Test career, and I just look at his last three Test matches. India at home, the game was won he got a brilliant hundred, and he chipped one to mid-off and England ended up losing that Test match by six runs. Then played beautifully in the first innings in Perth and in the second innings, Australia getting back in the game, he played a loose drive and he’s out. A similar thing happens this afternoon. To me now, we are getting to a situation of (asking), is he recoginising the game scenario?" Broad stated.
“And on top of that, you expose your captain Stokes who is struggling against Mitchell Starc, to Starc in the twlight period. There needs to be a couple of question marks over that,” he added.
Meanwhile, England will resume Day 2 on 325/9 with Joe Root unbeaten on 135 and Jofra Archer batting on 32. The duo's partnership of 61 runs frustrated the Aussies a lot during the third session and it remains to be seen as to how far will they manage to take the side's total.
ADVERTISEMENT
