Brook points bemused response to critics calling England ‘bad losers’
H
arry Brook has dismissed criticism of England as dangerous losers, mentioning: ‘We’ve not misplaced something but!’
England are trying to stage the Ashes with victory on this week’s Fifth Test on the Oval, with Brook claiming {that a} 2-2 closing scoreline would offer one thing of a “moral victory” for the house aspect, given they had been properly heading in the right direction for victory within the Fourth Test earlier than a Manchester washout noticed Australia retain the Urn.
Brook was one in every of six batters to go fifty at Old Trafford as England dominated Australia’s bowlers, posting a complete of 592, a 275-run lead on first innings. The vacationers had been 5 wickets down and nonetheless 61 runs in need of forcing England to bat once more heading into the ultimate day, however torrential rain noticed play deserted with no ball being bowled after two classes had additionally been worn out on Saturday.
“We were dominating the game last week weren’t we so if the game had played out, I would like to think we would have won that,” Brook stated. “So, if we can win this week, yeah it almost can make it a moral victory.
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“We were thinking that [we deserved something] last week when we were watching the rain pour down in Manchester, it never seems to be sunny there, but there isn’t much to be said. This week we will go out there, play the same way and try to get a victory.”
The anti-climatic ending to what had been a gripping collection has prompted all method of debate about what may be finished to fight the climate, from extending taking part in occasions to implementing reserve days.
Sections of the Australian media have, unsurprisingly, jumped on strategies that the retention of the Urn at this stage is solely a results of England’s misfortune with regards the climate, branding Ben Stokes’s aspect sore losers.
“We haven’t lost yet,” Brook quipped. “They’ve only retained it. So, if we win this week, it’s a draw isn’t it?”
Australia have not won a series in England outright since 2001, with Pat Cummins’s side heavily driven to do so having squandered the chance in 2019.
Then captained by Tim Paine, Australia found themselves in an identical position at 2-1 up with the Urn already secure heading into the Fifth Test, but a consolation victory for England saw the series finish 2-2.
“That can be pretty,” Brook stated of the possibility of denying Australia that satisfaction. “It’s not nice drawing is it, but it would be lovely to not give them that privilege. We’re just gonna go out there and play the same way we have in this series.”