England vs Pakistan: Harry Brook, Joe Root, Jordan Cox make runs in Headingley gloom – BBC Sport
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Sparkling Brook builds England lead over Pakistan
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Figure caption:
‘Hometown boy’ Brook reaches half-century
By
Stephan Shemilt
Cricket Correspondent at Headingley
Published
20 August 2026, 19:33 BST
Updated
19 minutes ago
First Rothesay Test, Headingley (day two of five)
Pakistan 171 all out:
Shafique 61; Tongue 5-46, Robinson 5-51
England 366-8:
Brook 91, Cox 73, Root 66; Usman 5-92
England are 195 runs ahead
Scorecard
Harry Brook sparkled in the Headingley gloom to build England’s commanding lead over Pakistan on a shortened second day of the first Test.
Brook, overlooked for the Test captaincy, reinforced how important he will be to England’s new era under Joe Root with a superb 91.
The vice-captain was crucially dropped on one and the reprieve allowed him to take England to 366-8, 195 ahead.
A stand of 120 with Dan Lawrence, who marked his recall with 51, came after Root and Jordan Cox both missed out on landmark centuries.
Root looked set to announce the beginning of his second spell as captain with a ton, while Cox was on course for a maiden hundred.
But their third-wicket partnership of 150 was ended when the impressive Cox feathered behind off the left-arm spin of Ali Usman for 73.
Four balls later, Root was left angry with himself by playing across the line to seamer Khurram Shahzad to be lbw for 66.
Nevertheless, Brook ensured England used the play possible on a damp, dank day in Leeds to cement their advantage.
Morning rain delayed the action until 14:45 BST. The clouds and floodlights should have given Pakistan the conditions to get back into the match. Instead, they could be beaten inside three days.
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England dominate in Headingley gloom
After England dismissed Pakistan for 171 and then moved to 112-2 by the end of the opening day, it seemed likely that their biggest barrier to significant progress on Thursday would be the weather.
And the elements were a challenge for all concerned. Umpire Allahuddien Paleker officiated in gloves, while England’s backroom staff huddled on the dressing room balcony in thick coats.
The Pakistan seamers, ideally suited to the conditions, were presented with a golden opportunity. Instead, England were able to score at a Bazball-like rate of 4.5 runs per over, simply by tucking into the bad balls on offer.
Perhaps Pakistan would have made further inroads had captain Salman Ali Agha held Brook at second slip off Shahzad.
Had Brook been dismissed, England would have lost three wickets for seven runs. The score was 205-4 at the time, the hosts’ lead 34, with only wicketkeeper Jamie Smith to come before the bowlers.
Thanks to the let-off, Brook treated his home crowd to strokeplay befitting his status as the number-one ranked batter in the world.
