Harry Brook Admits Need for Patience After Gritty Day 1 at SCG

England batter Harry Brook admitted that developing greater patience at the crease has become a key focus for him after battling through a tough opening day at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

After rain curtailed play on Day 1, Brook reflected on his batting approach, acknowledging that disciplined bowling attacks have consistently tested him during the ongoing ICC World Test Championship series in Australia. He accepted that adapting his mindset has been essential in challenging conditions.

England closed the rain-affected day at 211/3 from 45 overs, with Brook unbeaten on 78 and Joe Root on 72, the pair forging an unbroken 154-run stand to stabilise the innings as England look to finish the five-match series strongly.

“I need to show a bit more patience and be happy picking up singles rather than always going for boundaries,” Brook said after stumps.
“Thankfully, I managed to do that today, and I’ve done it in a few other innings too. It’s something I need to keep working on and apply consistently.”

The world’s No.2-ranked Test batter played an innings built more on resilience than aggression—quite different from the attacking style that marked his rapid rise in international cricket.

Coming to the crease at 57/3, Brook adopted a measured approach, rotating the strike effectively while still maintaining a healthy scoring rate. His unbeaten 78 came off 92 balls, reflecting a balance between caution and intent.

“I’ve been trying to absorb pressure more,” Brook explained.
“If that means taking singles instead of forcing boundaries, then that’s fine. It hasn’t always resulted in the runs I’d want this series, but it’s part of the process.”

Australia’s bowlers continued with a familiar tactic against Brook, applying sustained pressure with tight lines and disciplined lengths. Mitchell Starc, Michael Neser and Scott Boland all challenged him, particularly after the lunch interval.

“It’s something I’ve faced throughout my career,” Brook said.
“I know it’ll keep happening in the future. I thought I handled it reasonably well today, though there were moments I could have done better. It didn’t feel perfect, but I’m pleased I got through it and can carry that momentum into tomorrow.”

Despite showing glimpses of form, Brook admitted disappointment at failing to convert starts into big scores. He has accumulated 310 runs in the series so far, including two half-centuries, but has yet to produce a defining innings.

“It’s been frustrating,” he admitted.
“I’ve reached double figures in almost every innings, which is usually where I go on to make big scores. That just hasn’t happened this time, and I’ve probably played certain phases differently.”

Brook believes variations in conditions and execution have played a role and sees the tour as an important learning experience as England aim to climb the ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 standings.

“Australia is a tough place to tour,” he said.
“The pitches change from game to game and even within matches. It’s been a valuable experience. We may not have had the results we wanted, but hopefully I’ll be back here many more times.”