Harry Brook became the first England captain to ever be run out during an ODI at Headingley.
In the 52 years that the Leeds-based ground has been holding ODIs, a run-out happened for the first time during England’s first one-dayer against South Africa.
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With England two wickets down during their first clash of three ODIs, Brook came to the crease to partner Jamie Smith.
But despite the two batting together at all levels for England, they got into an almighty muddle.
Both ended up down the same end, allowing Tristan Stubbs to launch the ball to Ryan Rickelton.
The wicket-keeper gathered the ball and whipped off the bails before Brook could make it with a desperate dive.
It left England at 82-3 after 14 overs, and marked a strange moment of history.
England have played 36 ODIs at Headingley but this had never happened before.
Unfortunately for England, Brook’s dismissal has sparked a huge batting collapse.
The hosts were bowled out for 131, with Brook scoring 12 of those runs, which is England’s lowest score at Headingley since 1975.
Smith was the one bright spark with a well-made 54, but seven other batters didn’t get into double figures in Leeds.
South Africa now face what should be a very straightforward chase to get their first ever win at Headingley in an ODI. The tourists are 74-0 at the time of writing.
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What is going on with England in ODIs?
England have made Brendon McCullum their new white ball coach and Brook replaced Jos Buttler as captain in April.
Since then, England have won their three ODIs under the Yorkshireman against the West Indies.
But the overall form in ODI cricket has been a worry for a long time for England.
Early exits from the Champions Trophy earlier this year and the 2023 World Cup.
This is a team that transformed one-day cricket in 2019 under Eoin Morgan, but since his retirement, other teams have surpassed England.
Brook wants to change that and set out that as an objective.
Speaking at the time he was made captain, Brook said: “I try and pick players that can naturally put the best bowlers up in the world under pressure from their best balls and the worst balls.
“I want people who can manipulate the field at certain stages in the game, and those who can score big runs and make really good match-winning contributions to games.
“I want bowlers that can work towards modes of dismissal, figure out ways to get batters out, and I want them to be able to bowl to a certain field at different stages in the game.
“I think you’ve got to have a certain amount of skills to be able to bowl in white ball cricket. That’s the kind of ethos that we’re going to go with.”
It is early days, but for England, it’s concerning that they’ve collapsed like this.
Meanwhile, Brook will hope that he makes some very different type of history as an England captain.
