English superstar Harry Brook has delivered a sobering Bazball admission, declaring his dismissals have been “shocking” so far in a disappointing Ashes campaign.
The tourist’s vice-captain got a feint edge on a Brendan Doggett short ball in his first innings of the Perth Test after pulling out of a pull shot, being sent packing for a well-made 52.
But since then, his innings have been far from smooth sailing, throwing his bat and nicking a Scott Boland delivery to be dismissed for a duck in the second innings.
Watch The Ashes 2025/26 LIVE and ad-break free during play with FOX CRICKET on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.
Then in Brisbane, while sitting pretty on 31 from 33 balls, Brook once again flashed at a wide and full Mitchell Starc ball, which again caught his edge and was swallowed by Steve Smith.
The second innings at the Gabba saw the English No.5 succumb to an impressive Boland delivery, nicking the ball on 15 while attempting a defensive shot — unlike his previous three departures.
Speaking ahead of the Adelaide Test, which is set to begin on Wednesday, Brook explained he will be tempering his aggression moving forward.
“They were shocking shots,” Brook said to The Age.
“I’d admit that every day of the week. Especially that one in Perth, that was nearly a bouncer and I tried to drive it. It was just bad batting.
“The one in Brisbane I tried to hit for six, so that’s what I mean when I say I need to try to rein it in a little bit.
“I can almost take that and hit it for one and get down the other end and whoever else is in with me at the other and can get on strike and keep trying to rotate.
“But I’ll be the first person to stand up and say they were bad shots. I don’t regret them, but if I was there again I’d try to play it slightly differently.”
Speaking after the second Test, skipper Ben Stokes was critical of team’s performances, especially in crucial moments as he emplored his players to “dig deep”.
Harry Brook delivered a big admission ahead of the Adelaide Test.Source: Getty Images
“Australia is not for weak men,” he said.
“A dressing room that I am captain of is not a place for weak men either. We need to dig deep. I need to dig deep.
“It seems to be a constant theme at the moment that when the game is in a pressure moment, Australia keep outdoing us in those moments.
“When we are on top, we are great, and when behind the game we are also very good, but when the moment is neck and neck, we are not coming out on top on enough occasions.”
Brook indicated he believed he needed to “absorb pressure” and adopt a tougher brand of cricket in an attempt to secure the tourist’s first win of this Ashes series.
“Sometimes I’ve got to rein it in a little bit,” he said.
“Learn when to absorb pressure a little bit more and then realise when the opportunity arises to put pressure back on them.
“I feel like I haven’t done that as well as I usually do in this series so far. I haven’t identified the situations well enough.”
Interestingly, Brook also revealed that England had a “belting time” during their Noosa holiday, where the team tried to “stay away from cricket as much as possible”.
BIG BATTING ORDER HINT
Travis Head was spotted facing the new ball in the nets on Monday in what shapes as a big batting order hint ahead of a crunch selection call for the Aussies.
Usman Khawaja, who was ruled out of the second Test due to back spasms, has recovered and will be fit to take the field in Adelaide.
However, it remains to be seen if he will be recalled into the Australian side, having managed only two after batting at No.4 in the first innings in Perth.
In the second innings of that clash, Head stepped up and faced the new ball, belting a monumental century to lift the hosts to a 1-0 Ashes lead.
Then he remained in the opening position in the second Test in Khawaja’s absence, meaning the veteran’s position at the top of the order is far from safe.
Head facing the new ball could indicate he is set to remain as Australia’s opener, with reporter Bharat Sundaresan posting footage of Scott Boland beating the South Australian’s bat with a shiny red pill.
That leaves Khawaja in a battle with both Josh Inglis and Beau Webster for a final spot in the XI, according to CODE Sports.
“I’m feeling 100 (percent),” Khawaja told reporters on Saturday.
“Obviously, I hope to play. I don’t really know.”
Should selectors stick with Head and Weatherald to open, the 85-Test veteran Khawaja could still bat in the middle order, which would likely mean Inglis making way.
Webster, meanwhile, is the only member of Australia’s 15-man squad who is yet to play a Test in the series, despite making a brilliant foray into Test cricket over the past 12 months. Since debuting against India in Sydney last summer, Webster has averaged 34.63 with the bat and 23.25 with the ball from seven Tests, yet is stuck behind Cameron Green for the all-rounder spot and was also snubbed for Michael Neser in Brisbane.
Speaking on Fox Cricket’s coverage of the BBL season opener on Sunday night, Mike Hussey said it would be an easy decision for him to recall Khawaja.
“It’s not too much of a decision for me. I’d bring him straight back in and I’d move Travis Head back down to five,” Hussey said.
“I just think Usman Khawaja has basically had one innings in Perth with back spasms. Coming into the series, Usman Khawaja was our number one guy opening the batting, we weren’t sure who the other opener was going to be.
“It’s been great to see Jake Weatherald do so well. What’s changed after one innings?
“He’s recovered from his back injury. Get him back in at the top of the order and get Travis Head back down.
“I know Travis Head played an amazing innings here but I just like him down at number five. I just think opening the batting consistently in Test cricket is very difficult and feel like Travis Head can be more consistent in the middle order.”
Khawaja ‘100%’ for third Ashes test | 03:14
THE BIG ‘GAMBLE’ ENGLAND COULD MAKE
As for what changes England could consider making, The Telegraph’s deputy cricket correspondent Will Macpherson wrote that Ollie Pope is the batter “most under threat” while reporting that insiders believe Gus Atkinson could also be dropped.
Hussey and Adam Gilchrist gave their thoughts on what changes they could see England making during Sunday night’s BBL coverage, with the pair floating a potential “gamble” for coach Brendon McCullum.
Gilchrist said Josh Tongue could come in for England at the expense of Brydon Carse, who struggled in the second Test, although The Telegraph reported that Carse is “loved by the management” so it seems unlikely he will miss out.
Hussey, meanwhile, suggested Jacob Bethell as another alternative should Pope be dumped if McCullum wanted to take the “gamble”.
It would certainly be a risk given Bethell has just played three red-ball matches this year, although it is one Gilchrist could see merit in.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if they do that (bring Bethell in),” he said.
“The conditions – of all the wickets, all the pitches and the grounds around Australia to suit their style of cricket, it’s the Adelaide Oval.
“I think they might double down on that positive, aggressive approach and say ‘we’re going to go him at number three’.
“I think Ollie Pope may well have run his race there. He’s not quite shown the consistency of being able to know what to chase and what not to. He’s a little bit scrambled.
“His body language in Brisbane wasn’t quite as impressive as it may have been.
I think they might go with Bethell at number three and throw another youngster in there. They are just backing everything about their positivity aren’t they?”
“… I wouldn’t be surprised if they roll the dice again.”
England clash with Aussie media | 04:34
DEFIANT ENGLAND COACH VOWS AGAINST ‘KNEE-JERK REACTIONS’
It comes after a defiant McCullum brushed off concerns that his job was on the line heading into the third Test against Australia, while admitting the team have been “nowhere near” their best.
The tourists were crushed in the first two Ashes Tests in Perth and Brisbane by eight wickets and only a win at Adelaide Oval this week will be enough to keep the five-match series alive.
McCullum confirmed they would stick with the same top seven, keeping under-fire Ollie Pope at number three rather than bring in Jacob Bethell.
“Knee-jerk reactions and chopping and changing settled batting line-ups is not really our way,” he said.
“We know we haven’t got enough runs so far in the series. But for us to go on and win the series it’s not about throwing out what’s been successful for us over the past few years.” England’s lack of fight and questionable preparations have drawn scrutiny, while McCullum’s claim that they “trained too much” prior to Brisbane was met with disbelief by former greats.
A decision for the team to lounge on the beach in tourist playground Noosa this week before heading to Adelaide was also panned.
But McCullum was unfazed, dismissing talk that his job could be threatened by another defeat.
“I don’t know, but it doesn’t really bother me, to be honest,” he said.
“I mean professional sport, it’s not easy, right? You do the job to the best of your ability. You have conviction in what you’re doing, and whatever happens, happens.”
McCullum admitted England must improve to keep the series alive, but suggested they would not change their gung-ho approach.
Head looking to ton up on home ground | 04:37
“We knew when we came here that we had to win three Tests to win the series, and the fact we’re 2-0 down has made it harder on ourselves, but it doesn’t stop the belief that you have within the dressing room,” he said.
“I don’t think we’ve been anywhere near our best so far in these last two Tests … but what’s been has been. Now, it’s focusing on the one that’s coming.
“I firmly believe that if we play our best cricket, we’re a massive chance in this Test match. We do that, and the narrative changes in the series,” he added.
McCullum defended the decision to take a beach break rather than train after two heavy defeats.
“Noosa for us was excellent. It was planned, obviously a year ago,” he said, adding that it was about spending “time away from the heat of the battle”.
“And I think now the freshness which we come into this Test match with will hopefully pay off.
“There’s no guarantees, but that’s the plan, and I think the boys are excited to get back to training and look forward to the next few days.”
Head: Does Khawaja deserve to open? | 04:51
‘EMBARRASSED’ GREEN SPEAKS ON BIZARRE ASHES MOMENT
All-rounder Cameron Green said there was no room for complacency in the third Test this week, conscious that Australia let England bounce back from 2-0 down in the last Ashes series.
Australia were on top in England in 2023, winning at Edgbaston and Lord’s, before the hosts won two of the last three Tests with the other drawn.
Despite the series ending 2-2, Pat Cummins’ side retained the Ashes as holders.
“That’s a good reminder for our team to stay really level,” Green told reporters ahead of the third Test at the Adelaide Oval starting on Wednesday.
“I think you can at times look a bit far ahead, but that’s a great reminder for us to stay as good as we can be and finish it off.”
The odds are stacked in Australia’s favour on home soil after eight-wicket wins in Perth and Brisbane, with England winless Down Under since their 2010-11 tour.
But Australia can’t afford to give up cheap wickets like Green did in the second Test, and the all-rounder admitted it was an embarrassing look.
Green pleas for calm around Konstas | 01:17
“It looks quite bad when you get out. You walk off a little bit embarrassed. But I think they’re all really great learnings for future games,” Green said.
Ben Stokes’ side have been widely panned for their lack of fight and perceived poor preparation, with the team under an intense media glare.
A security guard for the team had a run-in with a cameraman on Saturday as they departed Brisbane airport for Adelaide, with pictures showing him seemingly pushing the Channel Seven operator away.
Green said he had sympathy for England.
“You never like getting filmed, especially when you want to get away from it,” he said.
“There’s always sympathy for anyone in life that’s getting filmed in public or in a private space, it’s never a nice feeling.”
