Brook Finds Positives Post England Loss, Relieved For ‘Day Job’

England captain Harry Brook says he’s happy to get back to the “day job” despite his side’s 19-run defeat to Sri Lanka in the first One Day International. The loss, played out on January 22, 2026, at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium, leaves England 1-0 down in the three-match series. Brook made these comments against a backdrop of off-field controversies and ongoing team struggles.

On-Field Struggles: Pitch and Collapse

England’s chase began with promise. Ben Duckett and Joe Root forged a 117-run partnership. They had England sitting at 129 for 1 by the 27th over. But then things fell apart.

The team lost five wickets for just 36 runs over 74 deliveries. It was a rapid collapse. Sri Lanka’s spinners, Pramod Madushan (3/39) and Jeffrey Vandersay (2 wickets), capitalized. Sri Lanka had posted 271, built on Kusal Mendis’ unbeaten 93 and a quickfire 25 from Dunith Wellalage. England was bowled out for 252.

Brook pointed to the deteriorating pitch as a key factor. “The pitch got a little bit more extreme,” he stated. He added that the “spin and the inconsistent bounce became increasingly evident, making it exceedingly challenging for new batsmen to settle in.” Joe Root and Ben Duckett, while set, found it hard to get going earlier.

They mentioned adjusting to the bounce and turn was tricky. Sometimes there was a surprising lack of spin. It just skidded through. Sri Lanka’s captain, Charith Asalanka, saw this coming. He told his bowlers to keep pushing late in the game, a smart move that paid off, ESPN reported.

“With the batting power we have, it only took us to get off to a flyer for us to break the back of that chase. On another day, we knock that off three down,” Brook insisted after the match. “The pitch got a little bit more extreme, the turn and lack of bounce, it was proving very difficult to start as a batter out there.”

Adil Rashid was a bright spot for England’s bowling attack, taking three for 44. But England let Sri Lanka pile on 80 runs in the final 10 overs. Jamie Overton conceded 23 runs in his last over. Opener Zak Crawley’s return to the ODI team didn’t go well, out for six. His struggles continue. Later, lower-order contributions from Rehan Ahmed (27) and Jamie Overton (34) gave a fleeting hope. It wasn’t enough.

Off-Field Shadows and Captaincy Pressure

Brook’s comments about getting back to the “day job” highlight the pressure. England’s build-up to this series wasn’t smooth. The captain admitted feeling fortunate to still hold the captaincy. This came after a nightclub altercation in New Zealand back in October, an incident that only surfaced after England’s 4-1 Ashes defeat to Australia. BBC Sport revealed the full extent of the issue. He faced a fine and a final warning for his conduct.

The New Zealand incident was not an isolated issue. England’s tour of Australia had its own issues. There was criticism around their preparation and a perceived ‘drinking culture’. A mid-Ashes trip to Noosa, where Brook was photographed, added to the noise. Now, players and staff face a midnight curfew on this Sri Lanka tour. It’s an attempt to draw a line in the sand.

The team is also dealing with questions about head coach Brendon McCullum’s future. His position is reportedly still under review. All this creates a turbulent environment for Brook to lead in. He’s trying to keep focus on the cricket. But the noise persists.

Finding Positives Amidst Uncertainty

Despite the loss and the surrounding distractions, Brook sees positives. “Unfortunately, we lost the game but there’s still a lot of positives to take from today,” he said. He emphasized that the batting unit needs to learn from this experience. He hopes they can carry lessons into the next two games. He also acknowledged Sri Lanka’s performance. “Sri Lanka have just outperformed us there,” he told reporters.

England’s ODI form has been worrying. They lost 11 of their 15 50-over matches during 2025. This current series has huge implications. A series defeat here could put England in a very awkward position. They risk missing out on automatic qualification for the 2027 World Cup. Their current ranking sits at eighth. That’s close to the cut-off.

Brook knows the stakes. “That’s been spoken about a hell of a lot in the last year or so,” he admitted. But he wants the team to focus on the present. The immediate goal: bounce back. Sri Lanka can wrap up the series with another win at the same venue on Saturday. England needs a quick turnaround. And a clear head. For Brook, and for the whole squad.