Sydney: England coach Brendon McCullum insists they don’t need to curb their ultra aggressive batting approach despite the Ashes series being on the line in the third Test but batter Harry Brook believes there is a need for reconsideration of shot selection after heavy defeats in the first two matches.
England lost the opening two games of the five-Test series by eights wickets, inside two days in Perth, and under four days in the day-nighter in Brisbane.
Brook has managed only 98 runs in four innings so far, and accepted that “shocking shots” were behind two of his dismissals in Perth and Brisbane, which he was willing to reconsider when the next time he is in the middle.
“I’ll admit that every day of the week, especially that one in Perth, it’s nearly a bouncer and I’ve tried to drive it. It was just bad batting,” he told reporters on Monday at the Adelaide Oval, where the third test starts on Wednesday.
“The one in Brisbane, I’ve tried to hit for six so that’s what I mean when I say that I need to rein it in a little bit. I can almost just take that and hit it for one and get down the other end.
“I’ll be the first person to stand up and say that they were bad shots. I don’t regret them, but if I was there again, I’d try and play it slightly differently.”
‘Have to turn up’
England are under pressure to avoid surrendering the series with a defeat in Adelaide when action unfolds from Wednesday and they realise the need to be “be in the moment” and think of eventual outcomes.
Brook said they need to find a way to excel in crunch moments against the skill and discipline of the Australian bowlers. He particularly has been criticised for his poor judgement but he insisted in remaining focussed to score runs.
“There’s them pressure situations, which we haven’t been really that good at so far,” the 26-year-old said.
“When we’re head-to-head, they’ve managed to be the better side and sneak in front. And everybody realises that.
“We’ve just got to stand up in them certain situations, read the game slightly better (and) just have a little bit of grit and determination about you.
“I don’t read any of them criticisms, I just try and crack on with my game and focus on what I’m trying to do,” he added.
“These are the moments that you want to turn up in, and you want to be the man that takes the game away from them and puts them in a tough position.
“So hopefully I can turn up, stick to my processes and stay in the moment as much as possible. And what will be will be.”