Cricket

Pakistan's national bureau of statistics hosted its inaugural 'Data-Fest' conference this week, just a stone's throw away from England's hotel in Islamabad. Under Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes, this England set-up has shown minimal interest in numbers, but there is one figure that stands out ahead of their series decider in nearby Rawalpindi: 101.25, Harry Brook's batting average in Pakistan.Two years have passed since Brook announced himself as a Test cricketer with an outrageous maiden hundred in Rawalpindi. He was England's fourth centurion as they racked up 506 for 4 on the opening day of their series against Pakistan, eventually falling for 153 off 116 balls on the second morning after looting 27 off an over from Zahid Mahmood.He followed that innings with subsequent hundreds in England's victories in Multan and Karachi, an extension of a stunning run of form in Pakistan that had started with a century in the 2022 PSL and continued with a breakthrough T20I series. Not since Kevin Pietersen had an England batter made such a compelling start to their Test career.Brook started the series with 317 in Multan on his return this month, a mammoth innings that was England's highest in 34 years. But more than 500km away in Peshawar, Sajid Khan was watching closely on TV, and noticed Brook hanging back against spin. When he was called up for the second Test, Sajid hatched a plan to turn the ball sharply out of the rough."There was a small patch outside off stump," Sajid explained. "When he faced his first ball, I told Rizi bhai [Mohammad Rizwan] that if he plays like this again, I will get him out." Brook stayed back as Sajid predicted, looking to punch through cover, but was beaten on his inside edge by a ball that kept low and had his leg stump knocked back.Brook was out playing off the back foot again in England's second innings, too, this time to the left-armer Noman Ali. He sat deep in his crease to a fullish ball, looking to swing it over midwicket, but was deceived by the low bounce and trapped lbw. With scores of 9 and 16, this was Brook's least successful Test in Pakistan: his first without a hundred, and his first defeat.Brendon McCullum, England's coach, smirked after the second Test when he heard Sajid had been revealing his plans to Brook. "Did he? Well bowled," McCullum said. "He is such an exciting cricketer, and such a big player for us as well, and he's trying to put pressure on the opposition… Sometimes, when you're doing that, you make mistakes and you get out."One quiet Test immediately after a triple-hundred is not enough to prompt any long-term concerns, but Brook said on Tuesday that he has been discussing gameplans against Sajid and Noman ahead of this week's decider. "They're obviously both going to play a massive part in their team," he said. "Hopefully, it pays off and I play a big part in the game."Brook agreed with Sajid's assessment about his preference to play spin off the back foot. "I do like to," he said. "It gives you a lot more time to play the spinning ball. It gives you different areas to play in. I'm not saying I'm not going to do that: I'm going to look to play off the back foot, and I'm going to look to put him under pressure."It is hardly an issue that has plagued him across his Test career: to date, Brook averages more against spin (67.81) than seam (57.70). But the reason that his twin failures were notable was that, having missed England's tour to India on compassionate leave, this was the first time he had played on a pitch weighted firmly in the spinners' favour.England staged a six-hitting competition ahead of their final training session in Rawalpindi on Wednesday morning, with Brook finishing a close second to Rehan Ahmed. Stokes said the aim was to "get the good vibes going" after three weeks largely confined to two hotels and two stadiums, but it also served as a reminder of Brook's devastating power.It is easily forgotten that Brook has still only played 20 Tests, such was the speed with which he became an all-format regular for England. He has a stellar record, averaging a shade below 60, but remains a work in progress. "He's a baby in the greater scheme of things," Jason Gillespie, Pakistan's coach, said. "He'll work things out in all conditions: the good players tend to do that."This has been a long season for Brook: since the start of April, he has played more or less non-stop, with 35 matches across formats including eight Tests, five ODIs as a stand-in captain, and a T20 World Cup. Thursday's Rawalpindi Test will finally bring it to a close, even if he will only have a short break before England travel to New Zealand.As a three-format player, Brook is growing accustomed to the relentlessness of the international schedule and will soon become used to opponents targeting what they perceive to be potential weaknesses. If he can overcome both pitfalls and maintain his remarkable three-figure average in Pakistan, it will go a long way towards England clinching this series.

England's batting maestro Joe Root has ascended to new heights in the ICC Men's Test Batter Rankings, reaching a career-best rating of 932 points. This remarkable achievement places him among the all-time greats, with only 16 players in Test cricket history surpassing this mark.Root's exceptional knock of 262 in England's emphatic victory over Pakistan in the first Test in Multan propelled him to this milestone. His dominant performance has extended his lead at the top of the rankings by over 100 points, with teammate Harry Brook joining New Zealand's Kane Williamson in second place.Brook's meteoric rise is a testament to his extraordinary triple-century in the same match, where he and Root forged a record-breaking 454-run partnership for the fourth wicket. England's Ben Duckett also made significant progress, moving up five spots to 14th in the rankings after his composed 84 against Pakistan.For Pakistan, Salman Agha and captain Shan Masood made notable gains. Agha jumped 11 places to 22nd, while Masood climbed 12 places to share 51st.On the bowling front, England's Gus Atkinson and Jack Leach benefited from their wicket-taking performances, moving up to 23rd and 28th respectively. Root's versatility was recognized as he ascended to third in the Test all-rounder rankings.The T20I rankings also witnessed significant changes following India's home series against Bangladesh and the opening matches of West Indies' clash with Sri Lanka. West Indies opener Brandon King surged to eighth in the T20I batter rankings, while Sri Lanka's Pathum Nissanka moved up to 12th.Among T20I bowlers, West Indies spinner Gudakesh Motie jumped to second place, trailing only England's Adil Rashid. Sri Lanka's Maheesh Theekshana climbed five spots to reach fifth, while India's Ravi Bishnoi moved up to eighth. Bangladesh's Taskin Ahmed made a significant leap, landing at 19th on the T20I bowling list.

Harry Brook's remarkable ascent in Test cricket continues unabated, with the 25-year-old England batter now occupying the coveted second spot in the ICC Test batting rankings. Brook's meteoric rise has been fueled by a jaw-dropping triple century against Pakistan in the first Test in Multan, propelling him eleven places up the ladder.In the process, Brook has leapfrogged Indian batting legend Virat Kohli, who has slipped one spot to seventh in the latest rankings. Brook's stunning performances have solidified his status as one of the most exciting batters in the Test arena. His triple hundred not only dismantled Pakistan's bowling attack to give England a 1-0 lead in the ongoing series but also underlined his potential to become one of the modern greats.Brook's rise has been mirrored by his England teammate Joe Root, who has achieved a new career-high rating of 932 points, further cementing his legacy. Root's remarkable innings of 262 in the first Test against Pakistan in Multan propelled him further ahead at the top of the ICC Test batting rankings. This new rating of 932 points surpasses his previous best of 923 and places him among an elite group of only 16 players in the history of Test cricket to achieve a rating above 932.The all-time best Test batting rankings remain led by Don Bradman, whose 961 points remain unmatched. Others in the top tier include Steve Smith (947), Ricky Ponting (942), and Virat Kohli (937). With his new rating, Root now joins legends such as Mohammad Yousuf (933) and Kumar Sangakkara (938) in this exclusive club.Brook and Root's record-breaking 454-run partnership for the fourth wicket against Pakistan was pivotal in England's emphatic victory, marking one of the most dominant displays in recent Test cricket. Their partnership showcased their exceptional batting skills and highlighted the depth of England's batting lineup.As England continues its tour of Pakistan, all eyes will be on Brook and Root to see if they can maintain their remarkable form. With their talent and determination, they have the potential to lead England to further success and cement their place among the all-time greats of the game.

James Anderson, the legendary English bowler, has heaped praise on young batsman Harry Brook, comparing him to the likes of Joe Root and Kevin Pietersen. Anderson believes that Brook has the potential to surpass both Root and Pietersen as England's greatest Test batsman.Brook made history in the first Test against Pakistan in Multan, becoming the first English batter in 34 years to score a triple century. His 308-run knock was instrumental in England's innings and 47-run victory.Anderson, who retired from Test cricket in July after taking 704 wickets in 188 matches, was impressed by Brook's all-round ability. "He's on the way to being in the top three that I've played with," Anderson said on the Tailenders podcast. "It's Root, Pietersen and him. He's definitely got all the attributes to overtake them."Anderson believes that Brook possesses the perfect blend of Root's technique and temperament with Pietersen's attacking instincts. "He's got the shots of both Root and Pietersen. He can destroy an attack if he wants to, he can play a longer innings if he needs to," Anderson added.Anderson also highlighted Brook's love for batting, which he believes is similar to Root's. "They literally couldn't care less what format it is. They just want to bat," Anderson said. "As much as Brook's the younger player and will be learning loads from Rooty, I still think Rooty learns from him as well."If Brook continues to perform at his current level, he has the potential to become one of the greatest English batsmen of all time. Anderson's praise is a testament to the young batsman's talent and potential.

England's batting maestro Joe Root has hailed the prodigious talent of young batter Harry Brook, predicting that the 25-year-old will continue to produce "monster scores" in the future. Brook's scintillating triple century in the Multan Test against Pakistan has left an indelible mark on the cricketing world, overshadowing even Root's own career-best 262.Root, who has recently surpassed Alastair Cook as England's leading Test run-getter, believes that Brook possesses the complete skillset to become one of the game's greats. "He's got such a complete game. He can score all around the wicket, he plays seam well, spin well, and high pace well. That's a pretty good recipe for scoring runs," Root said.Brook's calm demeanor and ability to pick runs effortlessly have impressed Root, who has witnessed the youngster's growth firsthand. "I'm not surprised at all in him going on and doing something special like that, but I don't think it'll be the last time we see him with a monster score by his name," Root added.The 454-run partnership between Root and Brook shattered numerous records and left Pakistan reeling. Pakistan's bowlers were unable to contain the onslaught, and their confidence plummeted as England piled on the runs.Root is hopeful that Brook's success will inspire other young players to strive for greatness. "You want to create an environment and a team where things are always improving and always getting better. You want the guys that come in to play with that belief that they can go and do really special things... If guys in the future are breaking records, then England are in a good place, and they're scoring a lot of runs, so hopefully that is the case," he said.Root has enjoyed playing alongside Brook, having first shared the crease with him at Yorkshire. "I love playing with Brooky. I've batted a lot together with him at Yorkshire, and seeing him come into this team and fit so seamlessly into Test cricket has been awesome. To get the opportunity to stand there at the other end and watch him go and smack 300 is pretty surreal, really," Root said.England's declaration at 823/7 left Pakistan with a daunting task of chasing down a mammoth total. Pakistan ended the day on 152/6, still trailing by 115 runs. The match remains finely poised, but England will be confident of securing a victory with their potent bowling attack.

Pakistan's hopes of salvaging the Multan Test against England dwindled further as the visitors piled on a mammoth 823/7d in their first innings, leaving the hosts with a daunting task to avoid a crushing defeat.Despite posting a formidable 556 in their first innings, Pakistan's bowlers were unable to contain the English onslaught, with Harry Brook and Joe Root amassing a record-breaking 454-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Brook (317) and Root (262) both registered career-best scores on a flat Multan pitch, feasting on the Pakistani bowling attack.The Pakistan bowlers endured a torrid time, with six of them conceding over 100 runs in an innings for the first time in 20 years and only the second time in Test cricket history. Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Aamer Jamal, Saim Ayub, Abrar Ali, and Salman Ali Agha joined an infamous group of bowlers who conceded centuries in an innings.England resumed Day 4 on 492-3 and continued their relentless scoring, adding 166 runs in 29 overs in the first session. Root and Brook remained unyielding, despite Pakistan's defensive leg-side bowling.Root's previous best of 254 was also against Pakistan in Manchester in 2016. Brook, in his maiden Test double hundred, displayed equal dominance, hitting 20 boundaries and a six off just 245 balls. His previous best was 186, scored against New Zealand at Wellington last year.Pakistan's only glimmer of hope came in the first hour when Root, on 186, failed to keep down a pull shot off Shah. However, Babar Azam dropped a regulation chance at mid-wicket, allowing Root to continue his onslaught.Root eventually completed his sixth Test double-century, which came in 517 minutes off 305 balls. Pakistan were without frontline spinner Abrar Ahmed, who suffered a fever and did not take the field on Thursday.With England's massive lead, Pakistan face an uphill battle to avoid a heavy defeat in the Multan Test.

England's Harry Brook Escapes Miraculous Dismissal in Multan TestIn a moment of sheer luck, England's Harry Brook narrowly avoided a game-changing dismissal during the first Test against Pakistan in Multan on Wednesday. During the 75th over, Pakistan's Aamer Jamal bowled a delivery that nipped back in as Brook attempted a late stab. The ball deflected off Brook's body and trickled back towards the stumps, but despite hitting them, the bails remained stubbornly in place.This stroke of fortune for Brook came in stark contrast to the stellar performance of his teammate Joe Root, who stole the show with a majestic hundred. Root broke Alastair Cook's record to become England's highest run-scorer in Test cricket, surpassing Cook's total of 12,472 runs. Root's masterclass innings of 119 not out helped steer England to 351/3 at tea on day three.Unfazed by his near miss, Brook went on to register a gritty half-century, ending the session unbeaten on 64. Together with Root, the pair put on a 102-run stand, frustrating the Pakistani camp on a flat Multan surface.Brook's escape and Root's record-breaking century have put England in a commanding position in the first Test. With two days remaining, England will be looking to build on their advantage and secure a crucial victory in the three-match series.

Harry Brook, England's rising star, has etched his name into the record books by surpassing Indian cricket legends Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni in the recently concluded ODI series against Australia. Brook's exceptional performance as captain has propelled him to the top of the list for most runs in a bilateral ODI series against Australia.In the fifth and final ODI, Brook's blistering knock of 72 runs off 52 balls not only helped England set a respectable total of 308 (all out) but also propelled him to the top of the list for most runs as captain in a bilateral ODI series against Australia. Brook's aggregate of 312 runs in the series is now the highest by any captain in such a contest, surpassing Kohli's 310 runs during India's 2019 series against Australia and MS Dhoni's 285 from 2009. England's Eoin Morgan (278 in 2015) and Pakistan's Babar Azam (276 in 2022) also trail Brook's remarkable feat.Brook's 312-run tally is also the second-highest by an English batter in a bilateral series against Australia, only behind Jonathan Trott's mammoth 375 runs from the seven-match series in 2010/11. The 25-year-old England skipper's impressive performance is a testament to his leadership skills and batting prowess.In the match, Australia won the toss and opted to bowl first, but England's batting lineup responded robustly. While opener Philip Salt set a fiery tone with 45 off 27 balls, Ben Duckett anchored the innings with a brilliant 107 off 91 deliveries. However, it was Brook's authoritative 72 that stood out, as his aggressive stroke play and leadership under pressure allowed England to go past 300 runs.Brook fell to Adam Zampa, caught by Glenn Maxwell, but not before leaving a significant mark on the series. Australia's bowlers, led by Travis Head (3/27) and Maxwell (2/49), kept England's middle and lower order in check, ensuring a challenging chase awaited the visitors in what promised to be a thrilling decider.

England's resurgence in the ODI series against Australia continued at Lord's, where they annihilated the visitors by 186 runs in a rain-shortened match. The hosts' batting onslaught, led by Harry Brook and Liam Livingstone, set the stage for a dominant victory, while Matthew Potts' four-wicket haul sealed the deal.After a two-hour rain delay, England's innings began cautiously against the formidable Australian pace duo of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. However, Brook's reprieve on 17 sparked a remarkable turnaround. The Yorkshireman unleashed a flurry of boundaries, reaching his fourth ODI fifty in just 37 balls.Ben Duckett provided solid support, contributing 63 before falling to Adam Zampa. Brook continued to dominate, but his dismissal on 87 left England needing a late surge. Enter Livingstone, who unleashed a blistering assault on Starc, smashing four sixes in the final over to propel England to a daunting 312-5.Australia's chase began promisingly, with Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh putting on 66 runs. However, Head's dismissal triggered a collapse. Steve Smith departed cheaply, and Jofra Archer's unplayable delivery sent Marsh packing. Brydon Carse then struck twice in quick succession, removing Josh Inglis and Marnus Labuschagne.Potts took over from there, claiming three more wickets to complete a career-best four-for. Only four Australian batsmen managed to reach double figures as the hosts rolled over their opponents for a mere 126 all out.England's victory not only leveled the series at 2-2 but also marked their second-biggest ODI win in terms of runs against Australia. The decider will take place in Bristol on Sunday, where the hosts will aim to secure a memorable series triumph.