Brook’s England captaincy starts with 238-run mauling of West Indies in first ODI

The earlier time England caught 400 at the board in a one-day world at Edgbaston it was once one thing of an epiphany and 4 years later they have been global champions. Whether Harry Brook’s captaincy can ship silverware like Eoin Morgan’s transformative reign is still noticed however this 238-run mauling of West Indies made for a at hand get started.

Not handiest did Brook’s males amass 400 for 8 after being installed by way of Shai Hope however, for the primary time within the structure’s historical past, they did so and not using a centurion at the day. Instead it was once a collective attack of the bowlers and the deficient boundary riders, with 4 half-centuries and – in every other first – each and every member of the highest seven making a minimum of 30.

Brook was once amongst the ones to tuck in, flaying 58 from 45 balls and clearing the rope 3 times – a commentary innings that was once later adopted by way of 5 outfield catches to equivalent the ODI file held by way of Jonty Rhodes. But as has already been the case this season – albeit in his first look of the summer season – Jacob Bethell additionally commanded some headlines.

Straight again from the Indian Premier League, and having generated a good bit of angst after lacking the Test fit in opposition to Zimbabwe, the 21-year-old top-scored with a 53-ball 82 that had his house supporters in clover. Not that the Warwickshire trustworthy see Bethell too continuously at the present time, nor will they if his present trajectory is the rest to head by way of.

It was once a calculated intervention. Bethell strode out with the ranking 221 for 4 initially of the 32nd over and patiently chiselled out 19 runs from his first 26 balls. Then got here the afterburners, with 63 ransacked from his subsequent 27 that, along side 39 from Will Jacks in his new position at No 7, slammed the door close on West Indies.

Faced with a wall of runs as sheer as El Capitan, West Indies had to get off to a flyer. Instead they have been derailed by way of a slippery opening burst from Saqib Mahmood, who claimed 3 for 32, and 3 for Jamie Overton in spite of a finger damage. Bethell was once within the motion, too, his left-arm spin outfoxing Jewel Andrew because the vacationers crumbled to 162 all out. Only a 10th-wicket thrash value 39 avoided England’s largest win by way of runs.

“It was a pretty exceptional start from the boys – the tempo was spot on – and hopefully we can top that,” stated Brook, his aspect having arrested a run of 7 directly defeats. “This is a new era, we’re trying to forget about the past and take one game at a time.”

On Bethell, who was once named participant of the fit, Brook added: “He is a confident lad and does not need much more bigging up. We all know he is an exceptional player who is going to have a very long England career. He brings so much to a side.”

Even robbed of 23 overs, the sell-out crowd had witnessed 562 runs, 18 wickets, and a few beautiful unreal fielding alongside the way in which. Roston Chase delivered two stellar catches however may just handiest make the rostrum on this class, Brydon Carse pipping him within the answer with a full-stretch one-handed take at the rope a los angeles Ben Stokes within the 2019 World Cup.

As neatly as Ben Duckett proceeding his spectacular run at opener – the left-hander struck 60 from 48 and averages simply shy of 51 in ODI cricket – there was once an early take a look at Jamie Smith up peak. England fancy those two can strike up a equivalent little-and-large partnership to at least one Duckett enjoys with Zak Crawley in Test cricket and a quickfire 37 from Smith, in a gap stand of 64 from simply seven overs, equipped some supporting proof.

It was once Joe Root who signalled the beginning of the Morgan technology 10 years in the past, England’s 408 for 9 that day pushed by way of his 71-ball hundred. But after Smith smashed one arduous to Brandon King at mid-wicket, the grasp was once content material to cruise his solution to 57 from 65 balls. An outswinger from Jayden Seales sooner or later discovered his edge amid what it’s honest to mention have been mixed-bag figures of 4 for 84 from 9 overs.

The day regarded ripe for Brook. After an early sighter – one thing he later wired he desires his gamers to notice – his bat was once all of sudden sparkling. A charged six off Justin Greaves signalled his intent, adopted by way of a tumbling swept six that was once natural innovation. Even the minimize shot he were given out to – stuck at deep level off Seales – was once completely marmalised.

Jos Buttler’s first day out again within the ranks in short crackled to the music of 37 from 32 balls however the impetus got here from Bethell and Jacks – his first 50-over knock at No 7 – including 98 in simply seven overs.

Bethell introduced out the swivel pull to devastating impact right here however a feathered edge in the back of within the ultimate over noticed the watch for that first senior century roll on.

But then this has been the Bethell approach up to now: the promise of what’s to come back. Brook, beaming after a profitable begin to the process, and beautiful satisfied in regards to the Rhodes file, can be hoping the similar is going for his aspect England at broad.