Harry Brook could be celebrating half a century for his local club, Bradford and Bingley.
Moments before tea on the second day of this third Test, he forced Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed to the cover fence, carefully removed his helmet, raised both arms and accepted Ben Foakes’ hug. It cannot be overstated as his batting is memorable.
It was his third century in his first full series as a Test player, and perhaps his best – carved out of the difficulties of 145 for five after he was complicit in the run-out of Ben Stokes.
Harry Brook reached his third century in as many games as England took the lead against Pakistan
The 23-year-old hit 111 before being trapped LBW by debutant seamer Mohammad Wasim
The other 23-year-olds may have faded, but they clearly brought them up tough in West Yorkshire. By the time he was trapped by seamer Mohammad Wasim for 111, he and Foakes, who had made 64, had put on a game-changing 117.
Mark Wood then crashed 35 off 41 balls, and Ollie Robinson 29 off 20, as England reached 354 — a useful first-innings lead of 50. In the end, the openers of Pakistan were bowled out for 21, but England’s hopes of an unprecedented whitewash remained alive.
In City of Lights, however, Brook’s performance stands out.
He hugged wicketkeeper Ben Foakes – whom he bowled for 117 – when he reached his ton
Mark Wood smashed 35 off 41 balls batting at number nine as England’s tail impressed with the bat
Yorkshire batsmanship runs through England’s Test history like a spinal cord — from Herbert Sutcliffe to Len Hutton, from Geoff Boycott to Joe Root. You’ve anointed a new member of this clan at risk, but Brook has made such a good start to his Test career, and looks to have all the ingredients, that it would be a surprise if his development doesn’t continue in the same direction . ‘I said to one of my mates before I came out here that I’d love to get two hundred, so one better is a good feeling,’ he said.
With Jonny Bairstow returning from a broken leg next year – though probably not in time for February’s two-Test series in New Zealand – there will be a scramble for the middle order.
‘Most selectors say they like headaches, I wish I had caused a massive migraine,’ says Brook.
His hundreds in Rawalpindi and Multan told us what we already knew from his exploits in white-ball cricket — not least during the T20 series here in the autumn, when he averaged 79 with a strike-rate of 163. That is why, early in this tour, England’s assistant coach Paul Collingwood called him a ‘mighty Joe Root’.
The Yorkshireman was dubbed ‘a mighty Joe Root’ by England assistant Paul Collingwood
But the second morning in Karachi demanded something more. Resuming at seven for one, England reached 58 without further loss when Nauman Ali trapped Ben Duckett lbw on the back foot for 26, then had Root caught at slip first ball.
Amidst all the excitement over Brook, Root’s runs have faded after a brilliant summer. Since then, he has made 171 off 19. It is to England’s credit that they have continued to win without major contributions from the man who once doubled as their security.
Brook calmly drove the hat-trick ball to deep point for a single, but when Ollie Pope was bowled for a brilliant 51 by an unplayable delivery from Abrar, it was 98 for four.
Stokes helped Brook restore some order at lunch, getting to 140 for four, only to undo it from the 11th ball after the break. Brook cut Wasim on his feet, but walked to second as Stokes saw the chance for third.
Brook was not interested and, when Azhar Ali threw the ball to Wasim, standing on the stumps at the non-striker’s end, he and Stokes were both stranded for one. Crucially, Brook got hold of his bat a fraction before Stokes crossed the crease, so the captain – after a strong 26 – had to go.
Perhaps just as importantly, Stokes controlled his irritation as he walked away, turned and gave Brook the thumbs-up — the act of a captain who understands the power of gestures.
Brook ran out captain Ben Stokes (left), who was disappointed but gave him the thumbs up
Brook and Foakes helped England rebuild from 145-5 to take a 50-run lead in Karachi
‘It’s my fault,’ said Brook. ‘I’m to blame. Maybe three, but I’m a little lazy when I run. I was tempted to drop my bat and let him take it, but instincts took over.
‘You concentrate more when you’re involved in a run-out. I was involved with Ollie Pope last week and I went on to get a hundred there, so maybe I should start something.’
Before this game, Stokes’ punishment for losing the six-hit tournament to coach Brendon McCullum was to serve dinner to Brook, who had won the previous competition between the two teams from North and South.
‘I’ll have to serve him his dinner tonight,’ Brook joked, ‘and put his little towel on for him too.’
Foakes hit 64 off 121 runs on his return to the side and also impressed with the gloves
After notching David Gower’s England-record 449 runs in a Test series in Pakistan, Brook joined George Headley, Arthur Morris, Conrad Hunte, Sunil Gavaskar and Mohammad Azharuddin as the only players to score three hundreds in their first four Tests.
His stand on Foakes was ended by a nip-backer from Wasim, before Rehan Ahmed’s first Test innings lasted just three balls — caught at midwicket.
But the tail wagged, and England regained control, scoring in 4.32 overs off Abrar, who added four wickets to the 11 he took in Multan but lacked the same threat.
Thanks to Brook, England have a chance to win the final Test of a year they will never forget
