Harry Brook is facing scrutiny after being bowled out again, this time by Jasprit Bumrah on day one of the Lord’s Test versus India. Brook came in at 153-3 after Ollie Pope’s slow-paced 44 off 104 balls. He only scored 11 runs before Bumrah’s seaming ball cut back from outside off and hit his off stump.
This is becoming a familiar issue for the young England player, who was dismissed by similar balls at Edgbaston. In the second Test, Akash Deep bowled Brook in the first innings and got him lbw in the second, both times using the inward movement.
During the Lord’s Test, Kumar Sangakkara shared his thoughts on Brook’s technique and suggested a change in his stance.
“Brook sets up outside off stump, and it’s been working. I don’t endorse batting outside off stump. It creates chances for fast bowlers to target pad and stumps, and it straightens your alignment. I prefer Joe Root’s way: keep the bat inside his stumps and hit the ball where it should go,” Sangakkara said.
Sangakkara said that Brook’s position outside off stump makes him exposed, like with the dismissal at Lord’s. He talked about what Brook could do to adjust in the future.
“It’s a trade-off. It’s been working, but in two Tests, the Indians have taken advantage of it, but he has to counter it. He either needs to bat outside his crease to get closer to the ball or use his feet, but he’s tried those things before.”
“I’d rather have him bat on middle, maybe closer to off stump. Starting there and staying inside his stumps is better because it opens up the off side and lets you play balls that seam into the bat better, Sangakkara said.
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