This week saw Pakistan’s National Bureau of Statistics host its ‘Data-Fest’ conference for the first time, barely 10 minutes from the hotel where the England squad is staying in Islamabad. For now, though, that means little to the Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes-led team of England, but Harry Brook’s journey composing of his batting against Pakistan has been impossible to ignore.
The young cricketer has achieved a spectacular 101.25 batting average in Pakistan. His Pakistan tour began two years ago when he came up with his name as a Test cricketer after scoring his maiden century in Rawalpindi. Brook was among four England centurions, meaning that his team amassed an astonishing 506 for 4 on the first day. Brook added a brilliant 153 off just 116 balls, hitting 27 runs in a single over bowled by Zahid Mahmood.
Harry Brook’s Journey in Pakistan Composes Highs and Lows
Brook’s form never dipped as he went on to score centuries in Multan and Karachi. His profile in Pakistan began from the 2022 PSL where he announced his century with an exceptional T20I series. Performances remind people of Kevin Pietersen’s Test cricket days at the start.
In this series, Brook started with a massive 317 at Multan. There, England put up their largest individual score in 34 years. He had a task to maintain in Peshawar. Sajid Khan found that Brook was susceptible to spin and plotted to work on his weakness by targeting a rough patch outside the off stump. Brook was bowled by Sajid and then trapped lbw by Noman Ali in the second innings for just 9 and 16 – his lowest in Pakistan.
Sajid stated:
“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 responded:
“I do like to. 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.”
Though Brook witnessed twin failures at the expense of the previous Test, he is still a prominent player; his average against spin is 67.81. Brook and the team will be seeking redemption as they go into the Rawalpindi Test, which marks the culmination of a long season as he has played 35 games since April across all formats.
According to McCullum on hearing Sajid’s plans against Brook:
“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.”
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