Harry Brook hopes he has caused a selection ‘migraine’ after scoring his third century in as many Tests as England earned a first-innings lead against Pakistan on the second day in Karachi.
The Yorkshire batter, who was brought into the side in the summer in place of the injured Jonny Bairstow, scored a brilliant 111 to help the tourists post 354 in response to Pakistan’s 304.
Pakistan were due to start day three of the third Test earlier this morning on 21 without loss, 29 runs behind, and with the tourists seeking early wickets as they seek to wrap up a series sweep.
Brook’s latest ton saw him surpass David Gower’s total of 449 for the most Test runs scored by an Englishman in a tour of Pakistan, set in the 1983-84 series.
And the 23-year-old hopes his exploits will cause the England management some problems when county team-mate Bairstow returns from a broken leg. ‘Most selectors say they like headaches, so hopefully I’ve caused a very big migraine,’ he said.
‘It’s too hard to say at the minute. Jonny is one of the best players, if not the best player in the world – he was this summer anyway. So for me, he comes straight back in the side. Obviously I’m not selecting the team but he’s such a big player and has been for so many years.’
There was one mishap during Brook’s knock when he left Ben Stokes stranded.
The captain was looking for a third run but Brook aborted his run and turned back, leaving both men at the same end.
The departure of Stokes left England on 145 for five but Brook responded well, putting on 117 for the sixth wicket with Ben Foakes, who made 64, before enjoying a cuddle with Stokes at the tea interval. ‘[The run out] was probably my fault to be honest, I’ll take the blame,’ Brook said.
‘There probably was three there, I was slightly lazy with my running. I was a bit tired to be honest. It was my fault, I’ll take the blame.
‘It probably makes you concentrate a little bit more, actually, when you’ve been involved in a run out, but obviously I was involved in (one with) Ollie Pope last week and I got a hundred in that game, so maybe I should start something up.’
In this series Brook averages a hugely impressive 93.60 at a similar strike rate. When asked about his three centuries in as many Tests in Pakistan, he said: ‘I actually said to one of my mates before I came out here that I would love to get two hundreds out here, so obviously to go one better is a very nice feeling.’
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