Alex Hartley calls Harry Brook "fu****g stupid" on-air during Gabba Test, controversy erupts in Ashes

Harry Brook faced more criticism after he threw away his wicket with another reckless shot in the second Test at the Gabba in Brisbane on Thursday, December 4. World Cup winner Alex Hartley called his decision-making "fu****g stupid,” as questions grew about Brook’s awareness on the opening day of the match.

Australia took a 1-0 lead after the victory in Perth. England skipper Ben Stokes opted to bat first after winning the toss. The visiting team scored 325 runs for the loss of nine wickets in 74 overs on the opening day. Joe Root was the best batter for the England team, finishing the day on 135 not out from 202 deliveries.

England at 122-3 When Harry Brook Walked In to Bat

England were at 122-3 when Harry Brook walked in to bat. Zak Crawley and Joe Root had already steadied the innings after two early wickets fell in the opening overs. Brook smashed three fours in his first few balls.

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He did have one nervous moment when he tried a scoop shot and missed it. Alex Carey collected the ball and took off the bails. The third umpire checked the replay and confirmed that Brook had dragged his foot back in time.

Brook scored 31 runs from 33 balls before Mitchell Starc found his edge. Steve Smith completed the catch at second slip. Root and Brook added 54 runs for the fourth wicket. Brook’s poor shot ended his innings and left England at 176-4 in the first innings.

Harry Brook Called Stupid After Dismissal in Gabba Test

Speaking on BBC Test Match Special, Alex Hartley criticized Harry Brook for his poor shot selection. She stated that Brook was "fu****g stupid" after he threw away his wicket. Brook repeated the same mistake he made in Perth, where he fell for a three-ball duck during a major collapse.

Caught in 4K pic.twitter.com/6uLY5GXZVm

— Richard Sharples (@RWSharples) December 4, 2025

Harry Brook has scored 2,903 runs in 32 Tests at an average of 56.31 and a strike rate of 87.47, including 14 half-centuries and 10 centuries. He is ranked the world’s No. 2 batter in Test cricket. However, his tendency to play rash shots continues to frustrate critics.

Joe Root’s Century Rescues England After Mitchell Starc’s Early Strikes

Mitchell Starc struck twice in his opening spell. He removed Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope for ducks, leaving the visitors reeling at 5-2. Joe Root and Zak Crawley added 117 runs for the second wicket. Crawley was dismissed by Michael Neser, but Root carried on confidently and reached his first century in Australia.

Ben Stokes appeared settled before a risky single led to his run-out for 19, sparking debate over whether he or Root had misjudged the call. His departure triggered another collapse, with several middle-order batters falling quickly and England slipping to 264-9.

However, Root found late support from Jofra Archer, who scored an unbeaten 32. They added 61 valuable runs for the final wicket before stumps. England finished on 325-9 at the close of day one, but there was a sense that poor dismissals had prevented a much bigger total.

Also read: Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad punish South Africa after embarrassing fielding errors in Raipur ODI