Follow UsIf you saw the first 15 deliveries of Harry Brook's innings in the first Test at Headingley, it could leave many wondering if he was going through a lean patch or if he is still raw in Test cricket. There were plenty of plays and misses, and he was also dismissed off a no-ball on Day 2.
However, a four and a six later, normalcy returned as Brook returned to his natural game and played his usual free-flowing shots. His approach, especially against Jasprit Bumrah, was impressive. Brook went into a shell yesterday when he was just playing for stumps, but on Day 3, he was not afraid to charge at the bowler.
Not just Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj too bore the brunt of Brook's exquisite strokeplay. That has now allowed the 26-year-old to go to his fifty off just 65 deliveries. Given that he got off the mark off his 16th delivery, this half-century has come at a good pace, like most of his fifties.
Brook is ranked second in the ICC Test rankings for batters, behind Joe Root, but given how well he has taken to Test cricket since his debut, it is safe to assume that Brook is not too far behind when it comes to being the best in the world.
In fact, no batter has scored more 50-plus scores since his debut, not even Root.
20 - Harry Brook (42 inns)
19 - Joe Root (53 inns)
18 - Ben Duckett (55 inns)
15 - Travis Head (51 inns)
15 - Yashasvi Jaiswal (37 inns)
That's a terrific conversion for Brook, who scores a fifty in almost every alternate innings. Not to forget, he has eight hundreds to go with his 12 half-centuries, which aren't all that bad either.
Furthermore, only Root (2,553) has scored more runs than Brook (2,389) since the latter's debut in September 2022. If England were blessed to have Root, they should be even more grateful they have Brook playing in the same team as well.
While Brook has a terrific record in Pakistan, his real test in the subcontinent will be when he tours India. His technique, temperament and strokeplay will be thoroughly tested there, and from what he has shown the world in the last three years, he will certainly be up for it.