Left Arm Around

Joe Root overtook his great teammate Alastair Cook as England’s highest ever Test run-scorer as the tourists ended 492-3 on day three of the first Test against Pakistan.

Root, 33, reached his 35th Test century and first in Pakistan with an imperious 176 not out, while his Yorkshire teammate Harry Brook remains unbeaten on 141 from 173 deliveries.

Brook’s sixth Test ton in only 19 matches was his fourth in as many Tests in Pakistan.

After an imposing 556 set by Shan Masood’s side in the first innings on a flat, lifeless Multan surface, England were under immense pressure to deliver a huge total despite the fairly easy nature of the batting conditions on offer.

Boy oh boy did they respond.

Opener Zak Crawley came and went for an impressive 78 early on in the day, offering a simple catch to mid-wicket, but Ben Duckett showed little signs of nerves or a dislocated thumb to thump 84 from only 75 balls from number four in a fearless 136-run partnership with Root.

With England racing along and looking unthreatened, pacer Aamer Jamal (1-78) was able to prize the wicket of Duckett LBW as the left-hander was struck high on the back pad.

Root was insistent on a review that proved to be unsuccessful, but thoughts of another momentum shift appeared to be short-lived as the dynamic Yorkshire pairing put the home side to the sword with an unbroken stand of 243 to put the game firmly in England’s control.

It would be fitting that Root crunched a boundary with a classic on-drive past mid-on to pass the tally of his old teammate and friend Cook, a shot that epitomises a player brimming with poise and class.

The plaudits of the day will be firmly lauded on Root’s achievements- and rightly so. He’s a player who has continued to shine in the Test whites since his debut in Nagpur on the victorious tour of India 12 years ago.

But in amongst the celebrations, highlight packages and tributes, another Yorkshire maestro is staking a claim to be one of the best in the world himself.

We remember his incredible heroics on England’s previous tour of Pakistan, one which they whitewashed 3-0, as he reeled off three stunning centuries to showcase his quality in the longest format.

He’s since continued that brilliant form with a stunning counter-attacking ton in New Zealand, a number of fine fifties in the 2023 Ashes and another blistering ton against West Indies at Trent Bridge earlier this summer.

At times he struggled for tempo in a home summer where England dominated, winning five Tests out of a possible six against West Indies and Sri Lanka.

However, any lingering doubts were quelled immediately with Brook hitting his stride from the beginning- spinner Abrar Ahmed particularly struggling at the hands of the 25-year-old.

His figures of 0-174 from only 35 overs show a bowler low on confidence off the back of some poor performances.

Brook’s only genuine scare of the day came on 75 when the a Naseem Shah ball trickled from his bat onto the stumps, but the bails were undisturbed and he was able to charge past his hundred.

As they trail by 64 and only two days remain, can England dream of yet another famous ‘come from behind’ victory with the surface likely to break up on days four and five?

A lot will depend on Root and Brook cashing in further. Should England post 600+, who knows how Pakistan will respond in the third innings with Bashir and Leach gunning for blood.

Pressure does funny things after all.

And let’s not forget that this Pakistan side has failed to win ANY of their previous 10 Tests at home….