England's Harry Brook and his uneasy relationship with India

New York Times

4 hours ago

Perhaps it should not have come as too much of a surprise to see Mohammed Siraj aiming a verbal barrage at Harry Brook during his helter-skelter performance on his home ground.
The dark art of sledging — usually bowlers letting batters know exactly what they think of them— is less common than it once was in these days of cricketers from opposing countries becoming more and more familiar with each other in franchise competitions.
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But England's white-ball captain is something of a rarity in having an uneasy relationship with the most powerful country in cricket, which was evident in Siraj's outburst and India's joyous celebrations when they dismissed him one run short of a century in the first Test.
This was an eventful first Test innings against India for England's gifted 26-year-old. There were spectacular shots in front of an appreciative Headingley audience as England galloped along at close to five runs an over, throwing away many of their wickets along the way, as is their wont, before eventually being dismissed six runs short of India's 471.
But there was also a large helping of good fortune for Brook, who would have been dismissed without scoring on the second evening had Jasprit Bumrah not overstepped. He was also dropped twice on the third day.
The sub-plot on another compelling day of fast and furious modern Test cricket was Brook's clash with Siraj after launching an assault on the Indian opening bowler, who conceded 29 runs in two overs with the second new ball.
The often-aggressive Siraj had plenty to say to Brook after one audacious shot flew towards the boundary. He offered more words of wisdom at the end of the over after being shooed away by Brook in a gesture that suggested he should concentrate on his bowling.
It was not enough to incur the ire of the umpires, but it was further evidence that Brook is not exactly the most popular player on the sub-continent, where cricketers of his talent and standing are normally revered.
Not that Brook's late withdrawal from England's five-Test tour of India at the start of last year is held against him, because he pulled out to be with his grandmother, Pauline, who was seriously ill and subsequently passed away.
It is more that he has twice pulled out of the Indian Premier League, the richest and glitziest competition in cricket, after being signed up on lucrative contracts. The second time this year was to prioritise his international commitments, which has potentially earned him a two-year IPL ban.
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When he has played in India, in his one IPL season with Sunrisers Hyderabad and with England in limited-overs cricket, Brook's tendency to live up to the stereotype of the blunt-talking Yorkshireman has hardly endeared him.
Brook struggled in Hyderabad after being signed for more than £1million in 2023, apart from one stunning hundred, which he saw as an opportunity to silence his critics.
'There are a lot of Indian fans who would probably say well done tonight, but they were slagging me off a few days ago, so I was glad I could shut them up, to be honest,' said Brook after his pyrotechnics against Kolkata Knight Riders.
Kolkata was in Brook's sights again in January when he suggested England had struggled to pick spinner Varun Chakravarthy during a seven-wicket defeat in the first Twenty20 international because of smog.
When he was then dismissed by Chakravarthy later in the same series, Indian commentator Ravi Shastri could not resist pointing out with glee: 'There's no smog here!'
At least Sunday's clashes might act as something of a dress rehearsal for Brook for when he arrives in Australia this winter for the biggest series of them all, the Ashes.
That straight-talking wound up a few Australians during the Ashes of 2023 when Brook claimed a 'moral victory' for England when rain washed out the Old Trafford Test with England in a strong position.
So Brook can expect plenty of the short-pitched bowling that has been a strength and a weakness for him in his rapid rise to the top of international cricket when he walks out at Perth for the first Test in November.
And it will be quicker than that of the sharp but not express Prasidh Krishna, who lured Brook into pulling straight into the waiting hands of Shardul Thakur on 99, only the 14th Englishman in Test history to be dismissed for one of the most agonising scores in cricket. That extra run always means so much.
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Brook put his hand to his face in almost comedic style and leant back in frustration while India roared their approval.
Another hour of Brook would have put England firmly in front, but as it stands, with rain ending the third day with India 90-2, a lead of 96, this first Test is evenly poised and living up to its promise as one of the biggest and most important series in cricket.