Boycott identifies Brook weakness Australia will target in the Ashes

24 February 2023 , 10:35

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Harry Brook celebrates another brilliant hundred (Image: MARTY MELVILLE/AFP via Getty Images)

Geoffrey Boycott has been hugely impressed by the start Harry Brook has made to his Test career, labelling him the "best natural strokeplayer England have had since Kevin Pietersen".

However, Boycott believes Brook could struggle against Australia in this summer's Ashes if they target him with the short ball. The ex-England opener expects the extra pace of Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc and the awkward bounce of Josh Hazlewood to be a real problem for Brook, given he likes to take on the short ball.

In his latest column for the Telegraph, Boycott said: "I feel this summer the Australians will challenge him with the short ball. He instinctively hooks up and with the extra pace and quality in their seamers hooking up can be a 'getting out' shot.

"If he can hit it for six every time then great, don't change, but that is expecting a lot. He got out hooking in his first Test match at the Oval, to South Africa's Marco Jansen caught at fine leg and Jansen is only lively fast medium.

"Against New Zealand he played on hooking Neil Wagner, who has no great pace any more. Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc are faster and even Josh Hazlewood gets awkward bounce."

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Boycott himself admits he struggled against the short ball at times and believes Brook needs to work on controlling the hook shot ahead of the Ashes, rather than playing it instinctively like he does at the moment.

Geoffrey Boycott believes Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood could target Brook with the short ball in the Ashes (Philip Brown/Popperfoto via Getty Images)

"The England coaches should be taking him to one side and pointing this out so that he has time to slightly adjust, making the hook shot less precarious," he added. "We have all at some time or other made the mistake of hitting at the ball and getting out.

"My famous mistake was in 1973 at Lord's against the West Indies. I got out to Keith Boyce caught at fine leg by Alvin Kallicharran. Just instinctively hitting at the ball and making good contact isn't good enough.

"Control is the key. You have to be absolutely clear where you are expecting to place the ball because there are usually two fielders in the outfield waiting to catch you out. I made that mistake."

Matthew Cooper