Cricket analysis: Harry Brook’s coming-of-age innings for England

Promoted to No.3 for the first time, England’s captain played a blistering innings, sprinkled with a hint of newfound maturity.

If you want it done, do it yourself. Harry Brook took matters into his own hands by promoting himself to No.3 and smashing a 50-ball century to pull a sloppy England past an even sloppier Pakistan to become the first team to reach the semi-finals.

Here, Sports News Blitz writer Sai Raghav Balakrishnan discusses Brook’s first T20I 100 against Pakistan in the Super 8’s.

England’s tactical genius

Walking in at 0-1, Harry Brook seemed unperturbed by the failings of the batting group around him, racing to 41 of 20 in the powerplay, ensuring England were well within the run rate, even though they were 3 wickets down.

With just two fielders outside the 30-yard circle during the power play, Brook had the opportunity to showcase his wide variety of boundary options, with decreased risk of getting caught in the deep.

For a management that has been underfire for their lack of tactical nous, credit should be afforded to Brendon McCullum and his team for their decision to bump Brook up the order.

Brook’s statistics against spin must have inspired the management’s decision.

Throughout his career and in this World Cup, Brook has struggled to get going against spin with the field spread, striking at 129 and averaging a paltry 18.78, a far cry from his record against pace. 

However, in the powerplay, Brook seemed much more comfortable taking spin down, sweeping Mohammed Nawaz, before smashing him through the covers and capping the over with a six down the ground.

READ MORE: Cricket news: Brilliant Brook takes England into the semi-finals after incredible century

New-found maturity

Brook’s maturity and handling of game situations have come under scrutiny, especially after the wretched Ashes tour.

But Brook’s show of responsibility after the powerplay was significant, toning his aggression down, especially with wickets falling at the other end.

This phase was where Brook focused on running hard, accumulating nine twos in the process, taking advantage of the big outfield and Pakistan’s below-par fielding. 

“Thankfully, I lost a little bit of weight a couple of years ago, because I wouldn't have been able to run all those twos before," Brook said of his increased emphasis on rotating strike.

Brook was proactive in recognising the threat of the unorthodox off-spinner, Usman Tariq, who took 2 wickets and seemed to bamboozle the English batsmen at times.

The 27-year-old exerted caution against Tariq, scoring 16 runs off the 11 deliveries he faced off him, showing a newfound maturity while simultaneously smashing the rest of the bowlers around, scoring 84 of 40.

Brook maintained his aggression throughout, even with wickets falling around him, with the Three Lions being reduced to 58-4 and then 103-5.

He brought up his 100 by lofting Afridi over cover for six, and then over mid-off for four.

While he was bowled the next ball by a pinpoint yorker, England was within touching distance of the target, even though they made hard work of the target.

Questions for the next game

It will be extremely interesting to see if England will stick with Brook at No.3, especially with the concerning form of Buttler, who has scored just 62 runs in six games.

England have won ugly this tournament, and has often won unconvincingly. Brook will hope his 100 will revitalise a shaky batting order, as they aim to win the T20 World Cup for the third time.

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