SYDNEY CRICKET GROUND — In the end, rain always looked like the only thing that would stop Harry Brook storming towards an 11th Test century on the opening day of this final Ashes Test. And so it proved.
Brook has shown glimpses of his precocious talent on this tour, namely in the first innings in Perth when his score of 52 accounted for almost one third of his team’s runs and in Melbourne last week when a punchy first-innings 41 helped swing a low-scoring classic England’s way.
Yet those moments of brilliance had only been fleeting. Until now, when the Yorkshireman unfurled his full repertoire as he scored an unbeaten 78 in 92 balls during an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 154 with Joe Root.
This pair, England’s past and future Test captains, have form in these types of situations. In 38 innings where they have batted together, they average 65 as a partnership. In terms of England pairings who have scored 2,000-plus runs together, only Jack Hobbs and Herbert Sutcliffe in the 1920s and 30s and Ken Barrington and Ted Dexter in the 1950s and 60s average more.
The highlight of Brook’s latest showpiece innings was the huge pulled six he smashed off Cameron Green’s bowling to move onto 64. This wasn’t a chanceless or perfect knock. Indeed, early on in particular, including getting off the mark with an inside edge off Scott Boland, it was skittish.
But this was Brook at his best, punishing poor bowling with brutal ball striking and tempering his aggression with sustained periods where he sat in and soaked up pressure.
Half-century for Brook! pic.twitter.com/qJWP9HSHGr
— Cricket on TNT Sports (@cricketontnt) January 4, 2026For Australian fans who might be questioning how Brook has a Test average above 50, this was the best answer possible.
Seeing him blossom so late on this tour, and England landed in Australia more than eight weeks ago now, adds to the general air of frustration at what might have been.
Nothing can change the fact that England lost the series inside 11 days of cricket. But at least Brook has shown glimpses of form that suggests he has the game to come back here in four years’ time as captain and prosper.
As this team’s current vice-captain under Ben Stokes, Brook’s spotty series has been one of the biggest disappointments.
Stokes has badly needed support in terms of his leadership. Too often his deputy has been found wanting, particularly in key moments on the field when a stronger man might have offered his captain constructive criticism or advice about what has gone wrong and what was needed to put things right.
Brook is still young in his career, having only made his Test debut at the end of the first summer of Bazball in 2022.
He took over the white-ball captaincy last April, but as a leader he has much to learn still. There is nobody better than him to work with right now than Stokes.
At 26, Brook is just 34 Tests into his career. He will get better, both in the field as a leader and with the bat, as the years roll by.
By the time he hits Australian shores for the next away Ashes series in the winter of 2029-30, he should be at his peak as both a player and a captain.
That prospect is exciting. But for now, one thing he can do for Stokes, and himself, is score big runs to make life easier for everyone.
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Nothing more than pride is riding on this dead rubber in Sydney. For England, though, it is an important game as they look to salvage as many positives as possible from a tour that has been as anti-climactic as it has been disappointing.
Seeing Brook bat like he did on day one here, helps with that. For the man himself, reaching three figures on day two would also keep up his record of having scored a Test hundred in every country he has played in so far.
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