Brook ‘not too fussed’ by England’s batting in heavy Australia loss

NOTTINGHAM: Harry Brook said he was “not too fussed” after England´s batting collapse during a heavy one-day international defeat by Australia in his first match as captain, defending his side´s gung-ho approach.

England, batting first in the opening ODI of the five-match series at Trent Bridge on Thursday, were well-placed at 213-2. But they slumped to 315 all out against an Australia attack missing their World Cup-winning fast-bowling trio of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc.

England lost eight wickets to slow bowling with five batsmen, including Brook himself, undone by the part-time spin duo of Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head. The Australia pair then shone in their primary roles as batsmen, opener Head compiling a superb career-best 154 not out and Labuschagne unbeaten on 77 in a partnership of 148 as the world champions cruised to victory with six overs to spare.

Several England batsmen gave their wickets away, caught in the deep rather than consolidating a strong early position, but an unrepentant Brook said: “We are out there to score runs. “If you get caught somewhere on the boundary or in the field then who cares? On another day that could go for six so I´m not too fussed about that.”

The 25-year-old Yorkshireman, leading England in place of the injured Jos Buttler, added: “Obviously it was grabbing in the pitch but another day we hit them for six. They hit a few in the air and they landed safely, so (we were) a little bit unlucky.