GEORGE DOBELL IN BRISBANE: Brook took 21 balls over his 18 runs in the game as England succumbed to a five-run defeat after the rain intervened with five-and-a-half overs remaining
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Harry Brook has admitted he "wasn't good enough" in the T20 World Cup defeat against Ireland but hopes he has learned from the experience.
Brook took 21 balls over his 18 runs in the game as England succumbed to a five-run defeat after the rain intervened with five-and-a-half overs remaining.
While conditions were tough, Brooks accepts he should probably have taken some high-risk options earlier than he did, secure in the knowledge that England’s batting depth provided cover should he fail.
"I wasn't good enough," Brook said. "I didn't bat the way I wanted to against Ireland. I didn't play the way I want to play my T20 cricket. I was a little bit in my shell.
"But I don't think it was because it's a World Cup. I think I was just trying to take it deep and obviously, the rain caught us. On another day, if the rain holds off for three minutes we probably win the game. We only needed five runs.
Brook is yet to find form at the T20 World Cup (TREVOR COLLENS/AFP via Getty Images)
"I've never faced it where the ball was still swinging in the 10th over, so obviously it wasn't an easy pitch. But like I said before, it wasn't good enough on my part. I can learn a lot from that.
"With the batting we have, you can always back it. I could have probably taken a risk earlier knowing that we had Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone, Sammy Curran, Chris Woakes and Adil Rashid to come. So it's still plenty of batting to come and I, personally, can probably take that risk a little bit earlier.
"We probably shouldn't be losing to Ireland. We are ranked second in the world so we want to be one of the favourites to win the competition. To lose to Ireland obviously isn't nice.
"It was swinging and seaming a bit and they bowled to the conditions exceptionally well. So hats off to them. But again, we've got to adapt quicker. We play on pitches like that in England, so it's not like we haven't played in those conditions before. There was a lack of intent from me trying to nudge and nurdle it around when there are boundaries there to be had."
The England squad had an optional training session at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane on Sunday. It looks, at this stage, as if they will be unchanged for Tuesday’s (November 1) match against New Zealand, with Chris Woakes and Mark Wood both bowling without issue. Ben Stokes, Livingstone and Curran were among those to opt out of training, though all are understood to be fine.
England will hope any rain clears in Brisbane (Albert Perez/Getty Images)
Whether the batting order is unchanged remains to be seen. Going into the tournament, the management suggested there would be some flexibility to it, with Dawid Malan dropping down to No.7 in the match against Australia in Perth. Basically, though, all the middle-order players would want to be higher if they can.
"I feel like it's easier batting up the order," Brook said. "I feel like batting five is always tricky. Like the other day, we were three down in the powerplay, which is always tough. But I've played most of my career in the middle order.
"In county cricket, you've probably got one or two bowlers who you feel like you can really get after whereas in international cricket you probably don't really have anybody you feel like you can get after. But you've got to be brave enough to take that risk."
England expect the pitch for Tuesday's match to offer some pace and bounce, but are not anticipating the same lateral movement seen in Melbourne. While the forecast is poor, they hope the anticipated rain will have cleared by the time the match begins. They train at Allan Border Field again on the eve of the game.
England have to win to retain any hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals. New Zealand have looked the form side in the event so far and are currently unbeaten. They also knocked England out of last year’s tournament at the semi-final stage
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