Brook calls on England to forget the past after crushing opening victory

Harry Brook has urged England to forget the past after they began life under their new captain with an emphatic 238-run win over West Indies in Thursday’s first ODI at Edgbaston.

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It was close to the perfect performance, albeit one against a visiting side who were wayward enough with the ball to concede 400 for 8, and never in the hunt to chase it down. They eventually capitulated to 162 all out, with No.11 Jayden Seales top-scoring with 29 not out. But for England, there was plenty to nourish them as runs and wickets were spread around, with four half-centuries, including Brook (58) and top-scorer Jacob Bethell (82) and three wickets apiece for Saqib Mahmood and Jamie Overton as all five bowlers registered dismissals.

Victory ended a run of seven straight defeats, the side’s worst run of form since 2000-01, when they lost 11 in a row. While undoubtedly a relief for Brook and head coach Brendon McCullum to start this new chapter with a victory, the captain insists the team’s previous travails must be cast from the mind, and encouragement taken from this all-round dominant performance, no matter the gulf between the two sides or how small the sample size.