Following the Three Lions’ second straight loss to South Africa in the current three-match ODI series on Thursday, September 4, Harry Brook brushed aside discussions about resting England’s Test players.
In an attempt to salvage the series after losing the first ODI handily, England challenged South Africa in the second match at Lord’s Cricket Ground. But the host team failed to reach South Africa’s 330/8 total by five runs.
Before the Ashes tour of Australia begins in November, several England supporters and analysts believe that the country should take some time off from playing Test cricket. With major tournaments like the T20 World Cup and ODI World Cup scheduled for the upcoming years, England’s white-ball captain Harry Brook stated after the close loss that he will aim to play the best sides.
“I will not choose the Ashes team; Stokesy and Baz will make that decision. In every white-ball match, we aim to strive to play our best team. The T20 World Cup this winter and the one-day World Cup the next winter are upcoming World Cups,” he stated.
Although acknowledging that the timetable is rigorous, Brook declined to attribute England’s recent difficulties to exhaustion.
“It’s simple to say that we’re exhausted, but it seems like an excuse to me. We’re healthy and talented enough to continue playing for the time being,” he continued.
Excellent work on our part to come within one hit of their score: Harry Brook
Harry Brook believed that South Africa was 10 to 15 runs above par, and he commended the England batsmen for reaching the target within touching distance.
“We felt they (South Africa) were 10 or 15 above par, so it was a very good effort for us to get within one blow of their score,” he said.
England was pushed back by costly periods from part-time spinners Will Jacks and Jacob Bethell, who gave up a combined 112 runs in just 10 overs. Harry Brook acknowledged that he had erred in strategy during the conflict.
When I bowled Jacksy from the Pavilion End to the right-handers hammering it down the hill, I think I made a mistake once. He clarified, “It was a gamble, and the gamble didn’t pay off.”
The third and final match in the ODI phase of the white-ball series will take place at Southampton’s The Rose Bowl on Sunday, September 7. With a 2-0 series lead, South Africa will want to finish the sweep. In contrast, England will want to regain some of its pride.
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