There’s a familiar buzz around the Sydney Cricket Ground as the fifth Ashes Test unfolds, and once again, the spotlight falls squarely on Harry Brook. England’s 26-year-old vice-captain, often the subject of both praise and frustration this series, finished Day 1 unbeaten on 78 from just 92 balls, steering England to a promising 211 for three alongside Joe Root when bad light and rain brought proceedings to a premature halt. As the clouds rolled in, England’s hopes remained bright, thanks in no small part to the stubborn Yorkshire duo at the crease.
Brook’s innings wasn’t just another number in the scorebook. It was a statement—albeit one laced with reminders of his ongoing battle between flair and discipline. Coming in with England wobbling at 57 for three, Brook settled in quickly. He eased to 20 from his first 30 balls, showing a level of patience that had eluded him in earlier matches. In fact, he defended or left 53% of deliveries on a good length, a marked improvement on his approach through the first four Tests. Yet, as any Ashes watcher will tell you, things are never straightforward with Brook.
“I’ve just got to be a little bit more patient and take my ones here and there, and thankfully I did that today,” Brook told reporters after the play. “So that’s something I’ve got to think about going forward and put that into my game. Try to be a little bit patient at times and absorb the pressure. And whether that’s taking my ones instead of trying to hit boundaries, then so be it.”
This self-awareness comes after a series in which Brook has faced criticism for his tendency to get out playing rash shots after promising starts. He’s reached double figures in every innings but one, yet until Sydney, he hadn’t pushed past 51. The numbers back up the narrative: Brook’s scores in this Ashes series read 52, 0, 31, 15, 45, 30, 41, 18, and now 78 not out. That’s 310 runs in nine innings at an average of 44.28, making him England’s leading run-scorer in the series so far. Still, for a player who finished 2022 with a dazzling average of 80.00, and followed up with 53.92 in 2023 and 55.00 in 2024, this series has felt like a grind.
“It’s been a frustrating series,” Brook admitted, echoing the thoughts of England fans everywhere. “I’ve been in double figures every innings bar one, and that’s what I’ve done so well in my career. I’ve managed to go on and get big scores. It just hasn’t happened this series, and there’s obviously been periods where I’ve played them slightly differently,y and it’s all part of the learning curve. It’s not an easy place to come and tour. The surfaces do change every game and throughout the game. It’s been a good trip to be a part of, and obviously we’ve ended up on the wrong side of it, but hopefully there’ll be plenty more time to come over here.”
Brook’s innings in Sydney, though, offered glimpses of the player England fans know he can be. He faced a stern test from Australia’s quicks, especially when captain Steve Smith and Mitchell Starc implemented the short-ball plan. With five fielders posted on the leg side and Starc pounding in, Brook’s compulsive streak was on full display. Twice,e he nearly holed out to the leg side, top-edging or miscuing pulls that, on another day, coulhave spelted disaster. But luck was with him this time, and he capitalized, even launching a bouncer from Cameron Green high over fine leg for six—a shot that had the crowd gasping and the commentators reaching for superlatives.
“I just didn’t feel like I was getting on top of the ball as well as I usually do,” Brook explained. “The wind was obviously going that way, so I just felt like everything was set up for me, and everything was coming through quicker when I started trying to go aerial. And if I get a little bit of bat on ball, then most of the time it’s going to go for six.”
That six wasn’t just a crowd-pleaser; it was a reminder of Brook’s unique talent. Only Australia’s Travis Head has cleared the ropes more often than Brook in this Ashes series, cementing the Englishman’s reputation as one of the most exciting young batters in world cricket. After 59 Test innings, Brook has amassed 3,130 runs at a remarkable average of 55.89—a record that puts him firmly in the conversation as a potential successor to the likes of Root, Smith, Virat Kohli, and Kane Williamson as the next superstar of Test batting.
Former England captain Sir Alastair Cook, speaking on TNT Sports, was effusive in his praise: “The reason he is averaging 56, one of the fastest to 3,000 Test runs, is he thinks differently. He has that genius in him, and with that genius is a sense of maverick to his batting. He will crave greatness and real consistency. He will fine-tune that balance.”
Graeme Swann, another England great, sees Brook’s learning curve as a positive sign. “When there are four men out on the leg side and three on the off side in two or three years, that will be the period he just gets out of the way of it, tires the bowler out and makes sure one or two of the fielders come in and then goes for it.”
For now, Brook remains a work in progress—frustrating and exhilarating in equal measure. He’s shown flashes of patience, rotating the strike with singles and absorbing pressure, but the temptation to play the big shot is never far away. As he put it after the play, “That’s something I’ve got to think about going forward and put that into my game and look to try and be a little bit patient at times, whether that’s taking my ones instead of trying to hit boundaries, then so be it.”
With Joe Root, who finished the day on 72 not out, for company, England have a platform from which to launch a big first-innings total—weather permitting. The partnership of 154 between Brook and Root has not only steadied the ship but put England in control on a pitch that rewards discipline and aggression in equal measure. For Brook, there’s the tantalising prospect of a maiden Test hundred in Australia on the horizon—a milestone that would silence critics and cap a tour of personal growth.
As Day 2 beckons, all eyes will be on whether Brook can finally convert his start into that elusive big score. The Ashes may be decided, but for Harry Brook and England, there’s still plenty to play for in Sydney. The story of this innings—and perhaps Brook’s evolution as a Test cricketer—is far from over.
