England white-ball captain Harry Brook has urged his players to “move on as quickly as possible” after being mauled by South Africa in the first one-day international at Headingley.
There was a buzz in the Leeds air as England gave pace bowler Sonny Baker his international debut following some searing displays in The Hundred.
But that quickly fell flat after South Africa chose to bowl and skittled England for just 131 off 24.3 overs, with only Jamie Smith (54 off 48 balls) providing any real resistance.
Ben Duckett (5), Joe Root (14), Brook (12), Jos Buttler (15), Jacob Bethell (1), and Will Jacks (7) all fell cheaply before the Proteas attack wiped out the tail with no problem, leaving Brydon Carse as the not out batter with over half of the possible overs untouched.
Maharaj stars with ball
Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj was the star of the show with the ball, taking four wickets for 22 runs.
Then Aiden Markram led the way with the bat, smashing 86 off 55 balls – and taking a particular liking to debutant Baker, who shipped a sobering 76 runs in his first seven overs.
South Africa duly sauntered to 137 for three in just 20.5 overs to seal a seven-wicket win, with wily spinner Adil Rashid grabbing all three wickets to fall.
The two teams lock horns once again in the second ODI at Lord’s on Thursday – and home skipper Brook knows his troops need to seriously raise their game.
Poor start to series
Yorkshire batter Brook told Sky Sports: “It wasn’t a great start to the series. It was just one of those bad days and we have to move on as quickly as possible.
“Everyone will hold their hands up and say they had a bad day, apart from [Smith] who batted really nicely. We just couldn’t get a partnership together.
“I thought we bowled nicely. Baker got a bit of tap at the start, but the way we kept trucking in and giving 100 per cent was great to see. That’s what we ask from bowlers.
“We almost used it as a practice session late on with the game dead so it was good to see lads showing their skills.”
Markram, meanwhile, feels Baker, at 22, has time on his side to learn from the mauling and said: “There has been some really good talk about him and his ability.
“If he has got it on a string, he will be a really good bowler for sure.”
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Transfer news: Alexander Isak joins Liverpool for record £125m fee, Yoane Wissa replaces him at Newcastle
Baker has raw ingredients
Former South Africa seamer Shaun Pollock, working as a pundit for Sky Sports, said of the young paceman: “He has the raw ingredients. He gets the ball to move and that is probably the most difficult thing to teach a person who bowls at such high speed.
“This is a learning experience and he will definitely be better for it. You can tell him about the difference in intensity and quality until you are red in the face but he will only understand it now.
“He will realise he has to be more consistent, not offer up balls easy to put away. He has energy and enthusiasm but that only takes you so far. You need skill and control.”
The final game of the three-match series takes place in Southampton on Sunday.
READ NEXT: Ryder Cup 2025 news: Europe captain Luke Donald relishing ‘challenge’ vs USA
Hazel Camba 
Shameeka Voyiya 
Newsjustnews writers