ICC T20 World Cup: Jasprit Bumrah ‘best of all time at the minute’, says Harry Brook after India beats England
Brook said it was difficult to beat India because India had extremely good batsmen who “came out from everywhere”.
Defending champions India amassed a record 253/7 thanks to Sanju Samson’s 42-ball 89 before restricting England to 246 for 7 for a seven-run win in the T20 World Cup semi-final on Thursday night. Bumrah returned with figures of 1/33 from his four overs.
“Yeah, it’s tough. Batsmen are coming from everywhere. They’ve got extremely good players (and) clean ball batsmen. If you miss, you score (a) six or (a) four,” Brook told the media after the match.
“Unfortunately, we didn’t perform as well as we probably could have done and that cost us a bit as well as some drop catches.”
Brook dropped Samson when he was on 15 in the third over of the Indian innings and the missed opportunity had a huge impact on the outcome of the game.
Yet England, in excellent batting conditions, produced a spirited response to stay in the game until the end. They needed 45 runs from 18 balls at a phase when Centurion Jacob Bethell (105) was strong. But Bumrah squeezed out a tight 18th over to allow just six runs, nailing his yorkers with pinpoint accuracy, leaving England facing the unlikely task of 39 runs to score from the final two overs.
“He’s a very good bowler, arguably the best of all time right now,” Brook said of Bumrah.
“He has been a very good bowler for a long time. The Indians (also) fielded extremely well, (Axar Patel’s catch to dismiss him) is probably one of the best catches I have ever seen as well, so yeah, hats off to them.”
Brook said England could be proud of their “fantastic campaign”.
“I’m disappointed but extremely proud. Honestly, as a captain, I couldn’t ask for more. I think we’ve had a great season,” he said.
“Like I said the other day, we’re never out of the game and that was proven again tonight (Thursday). We were in the game until the very end. I’m extremely proud of the boys and all the boys should be extremely proud of themselves as well.”
Brook heaped praise on 22-year-old Bethell, whose century gave England great hope for the future.
“He is an outstanding player. As we saw tonight against India when he was under high pressure at home as well. The way he played the innings there was outstanding,” he said.
Brook said: “He will have a great career in England. I hope to spend a lot of time with him in the future.”
Varun Chakravarthy conceded 64 runs for one wicket in his four overs for the joint second highest of any Indian bowler in T20Is, while England posted a total of 99/2 in seven overs spin from India.
Brook said it was “funny” to be complimented on their success against spinners, but also said it was “brilliant” in cricket.
“It’s funny because whenever we get asked about spinners, you usually tell us off, so it’s nice to get complimented on that for once,” he said.
“We established that Chakravarthy was probably short (in the bowling) and Bethell removed him early and, as every bowler does, he tried to get a little fuller and hit him for (a) six.
“It’s just cricket intelligence and people trying to understand what the bowling attack is trying to do and the matchups.”
Brook also stood behind England head coach Brendon McCullum, who has come under fire since his poor performance in the Ashes. Asked if he would support the former New Zealand captain continuing as England head coach, Brook said “125 per cent”.
“I’ve said many times that he’s the best coach I’ve ever had (and) the best coach I’ve ever had,” Brook said.
“The way he talks to everyone, he has his own aura in the dressing room, everyone respects him and the things he did in the game as a player were incredible and he carried that into his coaching.
“The things he did during his four years in office changed English cricket for the best,” the England skipper added.
