Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara strongly criticised Harry Brook for his reckless shot selection that led to his dismissal on Day 4 of the third Test between England and India at Lord’s. Brook, currently the No.1 ranked batter in the ICC Test Rankings, began with a bold counterattack, smashing Akash Deep for a couple of boundaries and a six in a single over.
However, the aggression proved short-lived. Brook attempted a pre-meditated sweep shot to a full delivery that was slanting into the stumps. He missed, and the ball crashed into the middle stump, ending his stay at the crease for 23 off 19 balls. Akash Deep, having taken some punishment from Brook earlier, celebrated the wicket passionately.
“This is Not Smart Batting” – Sangakkara
Speaking from the commentary box, Sangakkara didn’t hold back in dissecting Brook’s decision-making.
“I wonder if they’ve changed fine leg fine, and he wanted to go square. That is not a scoop. The scoop he plays with ease, and this is a sweep, normally played off a spinner, and that was way too much room,” Sangakkara observed.
He added that the timing of Brook’s aggression, just before lunch, made little sense in the context of the match. “15 minutes to go for lunch, counterattack started. This is not smart batting,” he remarked.
Sangakkara went further, suggesting England’s style of play had crossed the line from calculated aggression to outright arrogance. “I think it’s a bit of arrogance, not even overconfidence, it’s not even Bazball, it’s just arrogance. You’re counter-attacking and that is a big, big mistake,” he said.
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