'Can't get on board with it' - Matt Prior calls out Harry Brook after surviving almighty scare during second Ashes Test
Updated 04/12/2025 at 14:12 GMT
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Matt Prior called out Harry Brook's decision-making during the second Test of the NRMA Insurance men’s Ashes series. Brook, who Prior called the "second best" batter in the world, survived an almighty scare just when England had recovered to 139-3 after Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope were removed for ducks. Watch every ball of the Ashes live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Prior 'about to spontaneously combust' as Brook almost throws wicket away
Video credit: TNT Sports
Harry Brook’s shot selection came under fire during the opening day of the second Test of the NRMA Insurance men’s Ashes series, with TNT Sports expert Matt Prior claiming he "just can’t get on board with it".
The tourists were fighting back at the Gabba – live on TNT Sports and discovery+ - with Zak Crawley and Joe Root helping them rebuild after a chaotic start in which Mitchell Starc removed Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope for a duck.
Having recovered to 139-3, Brook gave England an almighty scare when he attempted a scoop from Michael Neser and missed the ball, which prompted an appeal from Alex Carey that he had stumped the batter.
However, the third umpire adjudged that Brook had his foot behind the line, and England had got away with one.
But on commentary, three-time Ashes winner Prior was not impressed.
"I just can't get my head around it," he began. "Look, I'm a dinosaur now, fine, but this is Test cricket. This is the Ashes.
"England are 139-3 on day one, you've got to take responsibility. Yes, be positive, play this brand of cricket, Bazball, or whatever you want to call it.
"But there is a time when you say Harry Brook, the second-best batter in the world currently, bat for an hour, take the game to the Aussies.
"It feels like it's just an easy option and yeah, it comes off, everyone says, ‘yeah, great, what a fantastic shot, what great intent’.
"But if you don't, it's just a gift of a wicket. England have got an opportunity here to literally get themselves back into the Ashes, unless they play ridiculous shots and give their wickets away.
"Yes, have intent, but play the percentages. I just can't get on board with a shot like that."
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Starc takes third wicket as Brook falls for 31
Video credit: TNT Sports
He continued: "Your partner at the other end has a responsibility as well to talk to you, that's why you talk about batting in pairs.
"But ultimately, it's on the individual to make the choice of how you feel. I'm speaking from experience because I made a lot of poor choices when I batted, but I knew that when I walked into the dressing room, I'd have Alastair Cook, Andrew Strauss and Andy Flower giving me absolute hell because it was a poor decision.
"You're playing cricket for England, you have to take responsibility - that is part of the job."
Steven Finn, who played 126 times for England across three formats, taking 254 wickets, suggested that Brook got the scare he "needed".
Asked what Australia would want the England batters to do, Finn said: "You wouldn't mind someone trying to play a ramp against you.
"They're saying to England, 'we don't think you've got the patience to be able to weather this from us to put yourselves in the ascendancy of the game'.
"We saw it at Lord's in 2023, when Nathan Lyon limped off with a pulled calf. Australia - in a last-ditch attempt to take wickets - spread the field like this, banged it in halfway down and said, 'please give us some wickets, England'.
"They're just asking England to make a mistake. Maybe that was the scare that Brook needed to knuckle down and make the most of this fantastic opportunity."
Brook was eventually removed by Starc for 31 as Australia claimed their fourth wicket.
During the interval, Prior went even further in his criticism of Brook's decision-making.
"It's not just a shot he's playing, it's the responsibility. This is the Ashes, you're representing your country. It's all well and good saying, 'well, this is how we play', but at some point you have to be accountable, you have to take the pressure off.
"He's such a good player and he's got much better options than to try and scoop a ball with the keeper up."
Brad Haddin, the former Australian wicket-keeper and batter, accused Brook of "selling himself and his team-mates short".
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Robin Smith tribute: Finn and Prior hail England legend as 'ahead of his time'
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"England had the game in total control, and you talk about match awareness," Haddin said of his dismissal. "Okay, he's gone at a wide one, and we love the way Harry Brook plays. But he's a better player than he's showing.
"You've got to think about who is behind you. Ben Stokes has had a horrible time with Mitchell Starc. There's half an hour to go and all of a sudden you play a loose shot - 'that's the way I play'... I think he's selling the team and himself short because that situation he put the captain in is unacceptable when you have the game in your hand."
England finished the day on 325-9 after Root made his first century in Australia.
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Watch every ball of the Ashes live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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