When was blazing away, making the most of a fortuitous letoff on 19, it appeared as if a Test series that had ebbed and flowed for the preceding 23 days would end in anti-climactic fashion.
But the cricketing gods wouldn’t allow that, would they?
Brook arrived in a blaze of boundaries, seeking a release from the hold India had imposed on the fourth day of the final Test at the Oval by picking off Ben Duckett and stand-in skipper Ollie Pope within the first 75 minutes of the Sunday start. Overnight 50 for one, England were staring down the barrel at 106 for three, the target of 374 a million miles away, when the towering Brook joined fellow-Yorkshireman Joe Root.
India’s Prasidh Krishna celebrates the wicket of Joe Root on Sunday. PIC/AFP
Root had been the constant in preceding successful 370-plus run-chases against India in Birmingham (2022) and Leeds (this June) with an unbeaten hundred and an unbeaten half-century respectively. He once again held firm while Brook counter-attacked, until the latter played one stroke too many and was caught at the long-leg fence by off Prasidh Krishna when on 19.
Brook reprieved on 19
Except, that Siraj stepped over the rope after completing the catch, throwing Brook the lifeline he capitalised sensationally on. Encouraged by that ‘life’, Brook forced Shubman Gill to spread the field, and then ticked off the runs with ease alongside the unflappable, seasoned former captain.
India’s spirits dropped as the runs mounted. Siraj, Prasidh and Akash Deep had nothing left in the tank and a famous if easy and unexpected England win appeared on the cards when Brook finally departed, charging Deep, miscuing a clatter and being caught, this time legally, by Siraj. It terminated a turbo-charged stand of 195 (211) but it had tooked England to within 73 of the target.
England’s Harry Brook celebrates his century against India at the Oval, London, on Sunday. PIC/BIPIN PATEL
That was the cue for another twist; India struck twice more to leave gasping at 339 for six, still needing 35, when rain and bad light pushed another wonderful contest to the final day of a magical series.
39th Test ton for Root
Root went to an untroubled 39th century with a nervy Jacob Bethell for company, and there still was no evidence of the drama to follow, though it was clear that suddenly, India sensed they had an opportunity. Perhaps a touch late, but there was a half-spring in their step that became more pronounced when Prasidh, who had provided the breakthrough in the morning with Duckett’s scalp, struck.
Three
No of times Joe Root has scored 500-plus runs in a Test series against India — the most by any player