“We can put pressure with early wickets and make them crumble”: Harry Brook confident of England’s win in second Test vs India

Samira Vishwas

Tezzbuzz|05-07-2025

Overview:

Brook compiled his ninth Test hundred in 27 matches, getting to three figures — courtesy of a classy late cut for four — after being dismissed for 99 in the first Test won by England at Headingley last week.

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — England were rocked, but Jamie Smith and Harry Brook played as if there was no pressure with a counterattacking riposte. Smith remained unbeaten on 184 and Brook managed 158 as England were bowled out for 407 in reply to India’s first innings total of 587.

“Hopefully we’ve clawed ourselves back in the game,” Brook said. “I just tried to bat as long as I could and Smudge (Smith) tried to get the momentum back our way. He’s a phenomenal player.”

Smith came in to face a hat-trick ball, struck that for four, and went on to make the biggest score by an England wicketkeeper, surpassing Alec Stewart. He raced to his second Test hundred before lunch in just 80 balls — the third fastest by an Englishman — and including an over when he pulled and smashed Prasidh Krishna for six and four fours. Smith was dropped by Pant on 121 off a tough chance.

Brook compiled his ninth Test hundred in 27 matches, getting to three figures — courtesy of a classy late cut for four — after being dismissed for 99 in the first Test won by England at Headingley last week.

Brook, a star for England in all formats, reined in some slight frustration at India changing tactics and bowling wide outside off-stump to a lopsided field and looked good after going down with cramp.

Soon afterward, he was bowled by Akash Deep (4-88) — armed with the second new ball — and was serenaded as he walked off gingerly.

That precipitated England’s late-order collapse that saw Nos. 9-11 — Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, and Shaoib Bashir, all being removed for ducks, joining Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, and Stokes.

Tongue responded by trapping Jaiswal lbw, but India finished the day in the driving seat.

“If I hadn’t got out, we would not be in this situation now,” Brook said, “but we saw last week how quickly it can change.

“Hopefully we can put pressure with early wickets and make them crumble.”