England has lost the first two ODIs of three-match series against South Africa.
Harry Brook has dismissed reports of England's multi-format players being tired after his team slid to 0-2 in the three-match ODI series against South Africa. After being humiliated in the first ODI by 7 wickets, England did well in the second match, almost chasing down a 331-run target, only falling short by 5 runs.
After another defeat to South Africa, Harry Brook challenged England's multi-format cricket players to persevere despite a demanding schedule.
Brook, England's white-ball captain, and colleagues Ben Duckett, Joe Root, and Jamie Smith all played in an exhausting drawn Test series against India before moving on to the Hundred. They were back playing ODIs for England as soon as the domestic event was over.
Ahead of the series' conclusion in Southampton on Sunday, South Africa already holds an insurmountable 2-0 advantage in three games. After the ODIs, the teams will clash in 3 T20Is as well.
Brook, on the other hand, opposed suggestions that England should rest its key Test players, particularly a tired-looking Duckett, ahead of a showpiece Test series in Australia, which begins in November.
"I'm not selecting the Ashes side; that's up to (Ben) Stokesy and Baz (Brendon McCullum). We want to try and play our strongest side in every white-ball game. We've got World Cups coming up—the T20 World Cup this winter and the one-day World Cup the following winter. It's easy to say that (we're tired), but in my eyes, that's just an excuse. We're good enough and fit enough to be able to keep playing for the time being.” Brook was quoted as saying by AFP.
England's better batting performance at Lord's, after their dismal performance at his Yorkshire home stadium two days prior, encouraged Brook.
"We felt they (South Africa) were 10 or 15 above par, so it was a very good effort for us to get within one blow of their score," he said.
The third ODI will be played at Southampton on September 7.