England declared their first innings at an impressive 823-7 just before tea on the fourth day of the opening Test against Pakistan on Thursday, gaining a significant lead of 267 runs.
Harry Brook delivered a sensational performance, scoring 317 runs, while Joe Root supported with 262, both achieving their personal best scores on the flat Multan Cricket Stadium pitch.
Brook’s milestone came when he hit a four off spinner Saim Ayub, making him the sixth English player in history to score a triple century in Test cricket. He reached this remarkable feat in 310 balls, featuring 28 fours and three sixes.
The first Englishman to achieve a triple century in Test cricket was Andy Sandham, who scored 325 against the West Indies in Kingston in 1930. Other notable English players who have crossed the 300-run mark include Len Hutton (364), Wally Hammond (336 not out), Graham Gooch (333 not out), and Bill Edrich (310 not out).
Since his international debut in 2022, Brook has rapidly established himself, notably scoring three centuries against Pakistan in just his second series, which England won 3-0.
Root, who was also chasing his maiden triple century, narrowly missed out, falling leg-before-wicket to spinner Agha Salman for 262 shortly after lunch.
Resuming their innings at 492-3, England sought quick runs, which Root and Brook delivered, adding 166 runs in just 29 overs despite Pakistan’s cautious leg-side bowling.
Root broke Alastair Cook’s record of 12,472 runs to become England’s all-time leading Test run-scorer on Wednesday, surpassing his previous best of 254, also made against Pakistan in Manchester in 2016.
Pakistan had limited opportunities, with their best chance coming in the first hour when Root, on 186, mishit a pull shot off fast bowler Naseem Shah, but Babar Azam dropped the catch at mid-wicket.
Adding to Pakistan’s challenges, they were missing frontline spinner Abrar Ahmed, who was unable to play due to illness, leaving the team with a weakened bowling attack on a crucial day.
