World’s top two batters Brook (78 not out) and Root (72 not out) help England recover from 57-3 to post 211-3 on rain-hit Day 1; the former reveals he’s learning to be patient on a frustrating tour that has taught him to tone down his natural instincts
England’s Joe Root (left) and Harry Brook during their unbeaten 154-run stand in Sydney on Sunday. Pic/AP, PTI
Joe Root and Harry Brook tamed Australia’s all-pace attack with an unbroken 154-run stand on Sunday to rescue England and give them the upper hand after a rain-hit day one of the fifth and final Ashes Test.
Batting after skipper Ben Stokes won the toss at a sold-out Sydney Cricket Ground, they steered the tourists to 211-3 when bad light forced the players from the field just before tea.
Subsequent rain and the risk of lightning made no further play possible, with stumps called an hour early. Root was not out 72 and Brook on 78 after coming together with England tottering at 57-3 following the wickets of Ben Duckett (27), Zak Crawley (16) and Jacob Bethell (10) before lunch.
Gritty half-tons
The world’s top two-ranked batsmen set about counter-attacking on a decent batting pitch providing little movement for the bowlers. Both brought up hard-fought half-centuries and, with dark storm clouds looming, kept the scoreboard ticking over at a fast clip.
Brook admitted he was learning to be more patient, with a frustrating Ashes tour teaching him when he needs to curb his all-out aggressive approach. The
destructive 26-year-old said he toned down his natural instincts in Sydney. “I’ve just got to be a little bit more patient and take my ones here and there. And thankfully, I did that today,” he said.
“I did that in a couple of the other innings as well. So that’s something I’ve got to think about going forward and put that into my game.
“And absorb the pressure. Whether that’s taking my ones instead of trying to hit boundaries, then so be it.”
While Brook slammed six fours and a six in his innings, he also took 35 singles in a 154-run stand with veteran Root. Their methodical approach was in stark contrast to the ultra-aggressive “Bazball” style of cricket England have pioneered over the past few years.
“It’s been a frustrating series I’ve had,” Brook added.
“I’ve been in double figures every innings, bar one, and that’s what I’ve done so well in my career, I’ve managed to go on and get big scores.
‘Not an easy place to tour’
“It just hasn’t happened this series... it’s all part of the learning curve. It’s not an easy place to come and tour. The surfaces do change every game and throughout the game.
“So it’s been a good trip to be a part of, and obviously we’ve ended up on the wrong side of it, but hopefully there’ll be plenty more times to come over here,” he added.
154
No. of runs put on by Joe Root and Harry Brook, the highest partnership for England in the ongoing Ashes
310
Total runs scored by Brook so far in this Ashes series, the most by an England batter @ 44.28
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