England's Harry Brook struck a defiant, unbeaten 78 to guide his team to a commanding position on a rain-affected opening day of the final Ashes Test in Sydney. Brook, sharing an unbroken 154-run partnership with Joe Root, helped England reach 211 for three before bad weather halted play.
A Rare Position of Strength
Despite a series of frustrating dismissals earlier in the tour, Brook played with characteristic freedom to register his highest score of the Ashes campaign. His efforts, combined with the experienced Root at the other end, left England in what the young batter described as a "very good position."
"We're in a very good position, three down at the end of play and hopefully we can make the most of that going into tomorrow," Brook stated at the close. He assessed the Sydney pitch as a "good wicket," noting its initial steep bounce before it became lower and slower as the day progressed.
Navigating the Short-Ball Ploy
The post-lunch session provided gripping theatre as Australia's seamers targeted Brook with a barrage of short-pitched bowling. The Yorkshireman's response was a mix of audacious strokeplay and calculated defence, occasionally skewing pulls into the air but also dispatching the bad ball to the boundary.
Brook acknowledged the tactic was one he has faced throughout his career. "I thought I'd played it all right. I could have played it better at times," he admitted. "It didn't feel amazing today but on another day it'll feel a hell of a lot better."
Learning from a Frustrating Series
Reflecting on his personal output during the live Ashes contests, Brook was pragmatic. He expressed frustration at not converting starts into major scores, a hallmark of his early career. "It has been a frustrating series. I've been in double figures every innings bar one," he said, highlighting the fine margins at Test level.
He identified patience and strike rotation as key lessons, something he and Root focused on during their substantial stand. "I've just got to be a little bit more patient and take my ones here and there... it's all part of the learning curve," Brook added.
With both teams opting for all-seam attacks by omitting specialist spinners, Brook noted the relentless accuracy of Australia's bowlers throughout the series. He also admitted he had expected to face more spin, but praised the host's pace quartet for their consistency.
Looking ahead, Brook was uncertain about how the SCG surface would behave, echoing his captain's pre-match uncertainty. "Absolutely no idea. Nobody ever knows what they're talking about when it comes to wickets," he quipped, suggesting the grass cover should keep it true for now.
England will resume on day two with Brook and Root firmly entrenched, looking to capitalise on their hard-earned platform and end the Ashes series on a high note in Sydney.
