Harry Brook hits century as England keep third Test with Pakistan in balance

In a winter where a T20 World Cup was added to England’s white-ball trophy cabinet and a historic series victory in Pakistan was secured, it may yet be that the thing referenced most heavily in years to come is how it witnessed the emergence of Harry Brook.

Hyperbole? Possibly. And yet such thoughts were hard to escape on an absorbing second day in Karachi as the 23-year-old finessed his third century of the tour – a sublime 111 from 150 balls – that helped his side secure a precious first-innings lead of 50 runs in their quest for a first clean sweep on Pakistani soil.

By stumps the third Test had progressed significantly even if, with England due to bat last on a pitch offering turn and variable bounce, it remained tightly poised. After finally bowling England out for 354 in 81.4 overs – a total which also owed plenty to a cool 64 from Ben Foakes on his return – Pakistan reached 21 for no loss before sunset, 29 runs behind.

There was little doubt about England’s man of the day, however, Brook striding off the field with a story to tell. There was a bit to unpack too, such as starting his innings on a hat-trick ball in the morning, breaking David Gower’s record for runs by an England player in a single series in Pakistan (449), or the awful mix-up after lunch that saw Ben Stokes run out in comical fashion.

The latter was one of those episodes where two batters are stood at one end of the pitch while the bails are being whipped off at the other. Brook was probably more at fault here, turning down an achievable third run as Azhar Ali pulled off a fine stop on the rope. Stokes, out for 26 after Brook touched his bat down first, was a touch dozy himself, it must be said. But he was calm enough to give his partner a thumbs up as he made his way back to the pavilion.

Two hours later the England captain was leading the celebrations on the balcony, Brook having punched Abrar Ahmed through cover for four to taste three figures once more. He had played with such clarity and authority out in the middle and his stand of 117 with Foakes during an afternoon of spin turned 145 for five into 262 for six – just 42 runs short of parity.

Harry Brook plays a reverse sweep on his way to a first-innings century for England. Photograph: Matthew Lewis/Getty Images

There was a bit of work to do once debutant Mohammad Wasim Jr got the ball reversing after tea and finally removed Brook lbw with an inswinger. But Foakes was again demonstrating those low-slung hands that play so smoothly on the subcontinent, while Mark Wood with 35 runs and Ollie Robinson with 29 also managed to deliver some tail-end swish.

Pakistan were slightly ragged, it must be said, Babar Azam having missed the first hour of play with a headache and bizarrely left cow corner unmanned when England’s lower order were on the charge. Still, the hosts made it through to the close unscathed and will head into the third day knowing that this pitch in Karachi is unlikely to get better.

Brook had earlier walked out during a lively morning and his first job was to negotiate a hat-trick ball. Nauman Ali had trapped Ben Duckett lbw on the back foot for 26 and then inflicted Joe Root’s first golden duck for three years when the left-armer spinner found the edge of a tentative poke that flew low to slip. At 58 for three, 246 runs in arrears, England were wobbling.

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But despite walking out to a friendly word from Nauman, a wily old bowler whose career includes bountiful two seasons in the Bradford League, this particular Yorkshireman had an immediate answer, rocking back and punching through cover for a single to begin the latest instalment of his remarkable first Test series on the road.

Before this match Brook spoke of his relative comfort in Pakistan, a stint playing franchise Twenty20 cricket earlier this year furnishing him with knowledge of conditions and bowlers. He also insisted he was picking the mystery spin of Abrar with ease, a bold assertion to go public with but one he soon underlined when, fifth ball, he launched him back over his head for six.

Picking Abrar is one thing but it still comes with no guarantees. Just ask Ollie Pope, who immediately after bringing up a sprightly half-century at the other end from 63 balls was removed by a beauty from Pakistan’s new weapon that dipped, spun past the outside edge and rattled the off stump behind him.

Once again, undeterred, Brook soon asserted his dominance with another clean strike down the ground off Abrar. The statisticians noted that this was England’s 88th six of 2022, the most by a Test team in a calendar year and secured by their find of the winter.