India still on top in first Test despite Brook fifty for England
England were 327-5 at lunch on the third day, still 144 runs behind India's first-innings 471, which featured hundreds from captain Shubman Gil, Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
But Brook, caught off a Jasprit Bumrah no-ball when on nought in Saturday's last over and dropped Sunday by wicketkeeper Pant on 46, was still there on 57 not out.
Jamie Smith (29 not out) had so far helped Brook add 51 in 12 overs for the sixth wicket.
Brook's innings was the more important following the loss early Sunday of England century-maker Ollie Pope.
England resumed on 209-3, 262 runs behind, after Pope had rescued them from the depths of 4-1 with a superb 100 not out after being dropped on 60.
Brook got off the mark on his Yorkshire home ground by thrashing the fifth delivery of Sunday's play, from Prasidh Krishna, for four and next ball pulled the paceman for a soaring six.
But Krishna then became the first member of India's attack other than outstanding fast bowler Bumrah to take a wicket this match, albeit with a loose delivery.
England vice-captain Pope had added just six runs to his score when he tried to cut a short and wide ball from outside off stump only to get a thin edge to Pant.
Pope's exit brought in England captain Ben Stokes, whose decision to field first after winning the toss in good batting conditions was criticised by ex-England skipper Michael Vaughan.
Brook, meanwhile, treated Bumrah, one of the best bowlers in the world, with disdain when he advanced down the pitch and him through the covers for four.
He then dished out similar treatment to Mohammed Siraj.
But from around the wicket, fast bowler Siraj induced left-handed batsman Stokes, on 20, into pushing outside off stump at a ball that moved away slightly, with Pant holding a simple catch.
Stokes, without a Test century for two years, threw his bat in the air in frustration as he walked off with England 276-5.
One danger for Brook wast that he would run out of partners and Shardul Thakur had Smith (nine) given out lbw only for the batsman's review to indicate the ball would have missed leg stump.
But Brook should have been out on 46 when he pushed forward defensively to left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja only for Pant to drop the thin edge.
It was not long before Brook completed a 65-ball fifty, including seven fours and a six -- the 26-year-old's 12th half century in a 26-Test career that also includes eight hundreds.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
France 24
3 hours ago
- France 24
Bumrah and Brook shine to leave England-India opener in the balance
England were dismissed for 465 on the third day in reply to India's first-innings 471. India stretched their lead by stumps to 96 at 90-2 thanks to KL Rahul's 47 not out, with Shubman Gill fresh from a century in his first innings as India captain, unbeaten on six. But with England having achieved their all-time fourth innings record chase to win a Test of 378 against a Bumrah led India attack at Edgbaston three years ago -- when Joe Root, still in the side, made a commanding 142 not out -- this match remains up for grabs. "The game is in the balance," Bumrah told BBC Radio. "We have to bat well. The wicket is a little bit two-paced so it will be an interesting game to come." Yashasvi Jaiswal, another of India's three first-innings century-makers at Headingley fell for just four on Sunday when the opener was caught behind off an exceptional Brydon Carse delivery that cut away sharply off the pitch. New batsman Sai Sudharsan avoided the embarrassment of 'a pair' on Test debut, after his first-innings nought, with 30. But England captain Ben Stokes, who took 4-66 in India's first innings, ended a partnership of 66 when Sudharsan chipped an inswinger to Zak Crawley, stationed at short midwicket for such a dismissal. Earlier, when Brook was dismissed just one run shy of three figures, England were still 73 behind at 398-7. But new-ball bowler Chris Woakes, in place of the injured Gus Atkinson, almost got England on level terms with a handy 38 before he was bowled by Bumrah, who knocked over Tongue's stumps to end the innings as he finished with excellent figures of 5-83 in 24.4 overs. Drops prove costly for India Brook's aggression, in an innings in which he had three reprieves, eventually proved his downfall. One run shy of what would have been a first Test century at Headingley -- and ninth in 26 matches -- he mishooked a Krishna bouncer to Shardul Thakur at fine leg. The Yorkshireman threw his head back in agony following the end of a typically dashing 112-ball innings featuring 11 fours and two sixes. He had been caught off a Bumrah no-ball while still on nought in Saturday's last over and on Sunday he was dropped on 46 and 82 -- with both those chances ones India should have taken. England resumed on 209-3, 262 runs behind, with Ollie Pope exactly 100 not out after coming in with the hosts in trouble at 4-1. Pope, having added just six runs off as many balls, edged behind as he tried to cut a wide ball from Krishna. "It was annoying to not kick on today," said Pope. As for the state of the game, the England vice-captain added: "That late wicket at the end puts us in an even position. "We know we have runs to chase, but if we can keep playing as we are, we know we can put together a good score." Brook treated Bumrah, widely regarded as the world's leading bowler, with disdain with a charging drive through the covers for four. But he should have been out on 46 when he pushed forward to left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja only for wicketkeeper Pant to drop the thin nick. Brook was missed again on 82 when fourth slip Jaiswal grassed a two-handed catch off a deliberate steer off Bumrah. At that stage, England were still more than a hundred runs behind. And when Brook went into the 90s with a superb lofted drive for six off Siraj it looked as if he would make India pay dearly for shoddy fielding. But Bumrah mopped up the tail to leave the first of this five-Test series on a knife edge. © 2025 AFP
France 24
9 hours ago
- France 24
India still on top in first Test despite Brook fifty for England
England were 327-5 at lunch on the third day, still 144 runs behind India's first-innings 471, which featured hundreds from captain Shubman Gil, Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal. But Brook, caught off a Jasprit Bumrah no-ball when on nought in Saturday's last over and dropped Sunday by wicketkeeper Pant on 46, was still there on 57 not out. Jamie Smith (29 not out) had so far helped Brook add 51 in 12 overs for the sixth wicket. Brook's innings was the more important following the loss early Sunday of England century-maker Ollie Pope. England resumed on 209-3, 262 runs behind, after Pope had rescued them from the depths of 4-1 with a superb 100 not out after being dropped on 60. Brook got off the mark on his Yorkshire home ground by thrashing the fifth delivery of Sunday's play, from Prasidh Krishna, for four and next ball pulled the paceman for a soaring six. But Krishna then became the first member of India's attack other than outstanding fast bowler Bumrah to take a wicket this match, albeit with a loose delivery. England vice-captain Pope had added just six runs to his score when he tried to cut a short and wide ball from outside off stump only to get a thin edge to Pant. Pope's exit brought in England captain Ben Stokes, whose decision to field first after winning the toss in good batting conditions was criticised by ex-England skipper Michael Vaughan. Brook, meanwhile, treated Bumrah, one of the best bowlers in the world, with disdain when he advanced down the pitch and him through the covers for four. He then dished out similar treatment to Mohammed Siraj. But from around the wicket, fast bowler Siraj induced left-handed batsman Stokes, on 20, into pushing outside off stump at a ball that moved away slightly, with Pant holding a simple catch. Stokes, without a Test century for two years, threw his bat in the air in frustration as he walked off with England 276-5. One danger for Brook wast that he would run out of partners and Shardul Thakur had Smith (nine) given out lbw only for the batsman's review to indicate the ball would have missed leg stump. But Brook should have been out on 46 when he pushed forward defensively to left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja only for Pant to drop the thin edge. It was not long before Brook completed a 65-ball fifty, including seven fours and a six -- the 26-year-old's 12th half century in a 26-Test career that also includes eight hundreds.
France 24
a day ago
- France 24
Feyi-Waboso sees red as France beat England in unofficial Test
Neither nation was at full strength for the non-capped clash. England were without 13 players selected in the British and Irish Lions squad, while those involved in the Top 14 semi-finals were unavailable for the visitors. Feyi-Waboso was well in contention for the Lions tour to Australia until dislocating his shoulder in December. The Exeter winger could now also miss some of England's tour of Argentina and the United States next month should he be banned after catching Antoine Hastoy on the head, which was upgraded to a 20-minute red card on review. "This is a good guy who just tries his heart out and has left the field today and it didn't go the way he wanted it to, so he's gutted in the changing room," said England coach Steve Borthwick. "Everyone will get around him and we'll find out about what the situation is in the next 24 hours." England still looked set for victory as they led 24-12 heading into the final 10 minutes thanks to tries from Tom Willis, Alex Coles, Joe Carpenter and Alex Dombrandt. However, France rallied to win the game with the final kick of the match. Paul Mallez cut the deficit before Romain Taofifenua bulldozed over to tie the scores with the clock in the red. Hastoy kicked the conversion to secure victory in front of a crowd of just over 34,000. England will face Argentina, who beat the Lions 28-24 in Dublin on Friday, in a two-Test series in July before facing the USA in Washington DC.
