Harry Brooke scored under 26 for Yorkshire in Gloucestershire. Photo: Getty Images/Dan Mullan
England's first Test against the West Indies isn't until July 10 at Lord's, but West Indies Test cricket has shown signs of revival by beating Australia in Brisbane earlier this year, so it would would have been a surprise had their analyst not spotted Gloucestershire dismissing Harry Brooke in the second match. round of matches of the second division championship.
“Joe Root scored only two runs in his first red-ball innings for Yorkshire since July 2022 and dismissed LBW when he fell across the crease into the offside, as he did in the first half of England's Test series in India. But the old master solved this problem in the second half and, no doubt, will solve it again; It is the young master, who already has a formidable track record as England's number five, who looks to be in big trouble judging by his 26 innings.
“It must have been a long time since Gloucestershire's pace attack caused sleepless nights, but the groundskeeper stretched the boundary ropes deep on one side (the old shelter side) and the pace attack chased Brook with a surprise bouncer. In the Ashes Test at Lord's he faced a barrage of bouncers, but then every ball was short after Nathan Lyon limped and Brook was able to set up to hook and pull before the ball was delivered.
< p >Brooke was the model of diligent defending after Root was dismissed and Yorkshire, sent in as a replacement, slumped to 25 for three. It was when the bouncer arrived that Brook began to show signs of coming down to earth after his imperious hundred against Leicestershire on Monday.
Marchand de Lange hit Brook's right shoulder with a short ball and forced Brook, at number five, to bowl a maiden, something he has rarely done in any format since his England debut. In De Lange's next over, Brook hooked a bouncer that whistled through him as he was about to hook.
Brook was strangely subdued in the time of his strike in Bristol. Photo: Getty Images/Dan Mullan
Some early lateral movement of swing and seam had already justified Gloucestershire's decision to bowl, but it had died down by the time Brook came in and struggled to make 11 runs. 37 goals. He played and missed the lively Ajit Singh Dale and then received a second blow to the body from a defender. Something had to give.
“Brook’s signature shot was his return shot. Dale, bowling at the shorter leg end, was bowled for six by Brook before square leg. Brook, of course, was already fine, but no. Zaman Akhtar, also active, gave Brook a bouncer that was caught for four between the fielders on the boundary on the longer side of the ground – and he had the nerve to bowl another short ball. It wasn't as straight as some other short balls, more out of bounds, and Brook never had any control over the swing.
Being Brook, he still got a lot of hits with the bat, but his swing was aimed at the ball up. and through the middle. De Lange ran back and caught the ball over his shoulder: Brook scored 26 off 55 balls. Given the time difference, someone in the West Indies must have been awake to notice what might have been an Achilles heel.
After Yorkshire smashed their captain Shan Masood for 140, Brook played in the slips, often at third, which was Jonny Bairstow's place in the England team but probably won't be anymore. Whether Bairstow keeps wicket or retires, Brook will retain his position.
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