Harry Brook insisted England could take plenty of positives from their ODI series against Australia despite losing the deciding match in Bristol by 49 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method. The hosts, having levelled the series at 2-2, posted 309 all out after Ben Duckett's 107 and Brook's 72 had propelled them to 202 for two in the 25th over before a middle-order collapse.
Australia, chasing a target revised by rain, reached 165 for two in 20 overs, with Matthew Short's 58 from 30 balls proving decisive. The heavens opened four balls after the mandatory 20-over mark, sealing England's fate, but Brook, standing in as captain for the injured Jos Buttler, preferred to focus on the fight shown by his inexperienced side.
“We've got a hell of a lot of positives to take away from that,” said Brook. “They're the best team in the world and we're playing against some of the best bowlers and batters to have ever played the game. The fight and desire we showed to send the series to a winner-takes-all showdown was amazing.”
England attempted to slow Australia's progress as rain approached, with Matthew Potts calling for new boots during the 18th over, but Brook said his priority was taking wickets rather than gamesmanship. “I was still trying to take wickets,” he explained. “I knew if we took two or three wickets there then it was going to be a lot harder for them to get ahead of the rate.”
Brook, who registered his maiden ODI hundred in the previous match, credited a clearer tempo for his form. “I think I've figured out a tempo in ODI cricket,” he said. “It's just similar to the way I've been batting in Test cricket – try and look to play the ball late and try to apply pressure on the bowlers when needed.” He and several team-mates now head to Pakistan for a three-Test series, a prospect he welcomes despite the quick turnaround.
