Harry Brook admits execution lapse after 'shocking shots'

Harry Brook admitted the first two Ashes Tests haven't gone to plan, conceding his feel for tempo and situation has deserted him at key moments. England's vice-captain said he has struggled to balance absorbing pressure and forcing the issue.

"It hasn't been an ideal series," he said ahead of the Adelaide Test. "Sometimes, I've got to rein it in a little bit: learn when to absorb the pressure more, and realise when to put the pressure back on them. I feel like I haven't done that as well as I usually do."

Brook explained his aggression often came in response to England losing early wickets, aiming to wrest back momentum. It worked in Perth's first innings with a 61-ball 52, but scores of 0, 31 and 15 followed.

"Most of the time when I've been overly aggressive is when we've lost early wickets and I've tried to counter-punch. I tried to do that in Perth: I played quite nicely and gloved down the leg side."

While Brook believes his game-reading remains sound, he accepted his execution has faltered. He acknowledged two dismissals—driving a back-of-a-length ball in Perth and edging a big drive off Mitchell Starc in Brisbane—were "shocking shots."

"I try to read situations well, and then it depends on my execution. So far, my execution hasn't been as good as at the start of my career.

"They were shocking shots," Brook added. "I'll admit that, especially in Perth: it was nearly a bouncer and I tried to drive it. It was just bad batting. In Brisbane, I tried to hit it for six."

Brook felt these moments highlighted the need for greater restraint and trusting rotation over big shots. "That's what I mean by reining it in. I can almost just take that and hit it for one. Whoever is with me can get on strike and keep rotating."

He said he wouldn't dwell on regret, only on learning. "I'll be the first to say they were bad shots. I don't regret them, but if I was there again, I'd play it slightly differently."

Brook tipped his hat to Australia's bowling accuracy. "You can't take this attack lightly: they very rarely miss. You've got to try and create your own bad balls. They don't miss often, and you've got to tip your hat. They've bowled really well."

Support for Brook remains strong within the England camp. Joe Root endorsed him on the Sky Sports Cricket podcast: "He can kill teams with a whisper. Harry Brook is a generational player, and he is going to deliver at some point. You watch out. He is a match-winner. If he gets set, he's going to do something special."

Root compared Brook's influence to Kevin Pietersen. "He does things other players can't. That's why he averages 55 and has done special things: because of his mind and how he reads the game."

Brook said the team's mid-series break in Noosa helped them reset. "We tried to stay away from cricket. We just wanted to go and have a good time. We had a belting time, and it probably came at the right time being two-nil down. To get away and refresh after a tough start, hopefully that helps us."

England, down 0-2, will make one change for Adelaide, with Josh Tongue replacing Gus Atkinson.