Brook’s behaviour gives Poms ‘#MoralAshes’ lead as Bazball meltdowns in ‘deplorable’ display
Brendan Doggett’s first Test wicket came in strange circumstances as Harry Brook walked off Perth Stadium after barely an appeal from the Australians in the second session of day one.
Brook’s decision to walk was not exactly Adam Gilchrist-esque as it came after a review from Australian skipper Steve Smith, who along with wicketkeeper Alex Carey was one of the few to appeal.
England’s vice-captain was administering an excellent counter-attack, racing to a half-century in just 58 balls before a bouncer from Doggett flicked his glove on its way through to Carey.
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Doggett, who finished with figures of 2/27 in his debut Test innings, was unsure, saying he did not hear a noise but saw the deflection.
It led to muffled celebrations as the Australians were stunned as Brook began to trudge towards the dressing room as soon as Smith called for the review.
“Went to the bouncer plan, and it was a good one. Well directed. Brook tried to get the gloves out of the way, he knew straight away,” Michael Hussey said on Fox Cricket’s commentary.
“He was hoping the decision went his way. It did initially, and then he was hoping Steve Smith would not review.”
England’s No.5 was gone for 52, and it triggered a collapse of 5/12 as the tourists were all out for 172 in only 32.5 overs with Mitchell Starc finishing with a career-best 7/58.
It also may have inflicted a major psychological wound on Brook for the remainder of the series, according to former England captain Michael Vaughan.
“That’s huge. It’s huge in many ways – the context of this game, it’s Brendan Doggett’s first and there’s an indication of potentially how Australia can bowl to Harry Brook for the rest of the series,” Vaughan said on commentary.
As Brook’s fellow Bazballers crumbled, Vaughan was livid in the commentary box.
“Mark Wood thought he would be sat in the viewing area having a few cups of tea and some water and a massage or two throughout the day,” Vaughan said.
“Now after 33 days he is out in the middle batting.”
“That is brilliant from Mitchell Starc, but that last 25 minutes of England’s batting, that’s not good enough,” Vaughan later added.
EVERY ball of Starc’s opening spell | 08:03
“It is all just too predictable. You go back 20-odd minutes, Brendan Doggett was bowling to Harry Brook and they went to the short ball theory.
“They get Harry Brook and the last few dismissals were just poor. It really is a disappointment.
“Bazball with brains, well Bazball has arrived, but they forgot the other bit.”
“England lost 6 for 67, and when Brook was there they looked in complete control,” Mark Howard added.
“They did and no wonder Vaughan has taken off to the back of the commentary box, but Mitchell Starc the hero with 7 for 58,” Mark Waugh replied
“You feel like England have missed an opportunity winning the toss and batting first.”
“All of a sudden Bazball took over and they started backing away and as soon as they put the field back they just went gung ho and I think it was deplorable,” David Warner said.
“It was probably village batting really,” Waugh responded.
“I found it very reckless. I know that’s the way they play, but you have got to be smarter than that, especially in Perth when it is very big square of the wicket.”
Before the carnage of the last four wickets unfolded, several England supporters and members of the press took to social media to praise Brook for walking.
The BBC’s Henry Moeran even made a tongue-in-cheek post that Brook’s actions gave England a 1-0 lead in the “all important #MoralAshes”.
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