Harry Brook’s ultra-aggressive approach pays off at the SCG

As the light faded, Brook was still trying to clear a Green bouncer over the slips when he made 77, immediately threatening to treat Alex Carey to an early tea.

Buy a ticket and ride Harry Brook?

It certainly seems that way; at least for now. And you can never accuse him of being boring.

It’s a fair question whether such a variable batting approach can hold up for someone in a leadership role.

Just a few headlines from the British press for this tour: “Mad Harry Brook needs to figure out how to play Test cricket quickly” And “Harry Brook’s mindless self-harm sums up him and England.”′ – capture quite nicely the reflections of times when his approach went wrong.

If Ben Stokes’ body gives out and Brook comes out charging, swinging, backswinging or slamming, God help him under the pileup.

The prospect of returning to the Ashes as a batsman who has learned from this tour and some dismissals is worrying for the Australian bowlers. And it’s equally appealing for anyone looking to have fun.

Brook is second in the ICC’s dubious world Test batting rankings and has scored 3130 runs at almost 56 in his first three years in Test cricket.

It seems trite to ask that until you consider their layoffs this summer. Imagine the damage Brook would do if he worked out the balance of his Test batting.

In the here and now, he has teamed up with Joe Root for England’s biggest partnership of the summer, at a time when the series has long been decided and Brook has already admitted to taking a few “shocking shots” ahead of the Adelaide Test.

He did so with ease, except when he seemed intent on throwing his wicket. Just as Australia was in danger of being left without a spinner at the SCG for the first time in 138 years, Brook ensured that the entire attacking attack looked the same day after day.

As expected on the opening day, the most scrutinized pitch since Boxing Day offered enough for the fast bowlers to do damage.

Every single England wicket fell to clever Australian approaches. Starc used Ben Duckett’s dangerous back-kick from ground to leg to enable him to make a move.

Zak Crawley was trapped in front by a ball from Michael Neser and Scott Boland and Jacob Bethell headed over the precocious No.3, leaving him for dead.

But when Root and Brook got to work, Starc lacked his usual rhythm. Australia were too open with Brook and Green specifically offered a boundary ball to each as he made more than a run of the ball.

In short, it looked as if Australia could at least use a spinner to offer something different and change the tempo of the contest in a way that short-ball tactics had briefly threatened.

Loading

Whether Todd Murphy can actually find success against Brook and Root is another fair question, given that previous averages were 63 against spin, a figure also supported by minor mountain runs on Pakistani highways.

But nine of Brook’s 14 T20 innings on his Australia debut were dismissed for next to nothing.

And at least every time Brook bats, the pitcher is well and truly in the game.

News, results and expert analysis from the sports weekend delivered every Monday. Sign up for our sports newsletter.