Harry Brook's magnificent counter-attacking century has put India on the back foot in the fifth and final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at the Oval. Facing a daunting target of 374, England found themselves in a precarious position before Brook's arrival shifted the momentum dramatically.
The 26-year-old batter tore into India's hopes with a 90-ball 111, his 10th Test hundred in only his 50th innings. Brook's aggressive approach immediately unsettled the Indian bowlers. At one stage, he lashed 27 runs in just eight balls, including a six over cover off Akash Deep.
Brook was given a reprieve when he was on 19. He mistimed a pull shot off Prasidh Krishna, sending the ball towards Mohammed Siraj at deep fine leg. Siraj caught the ball but stepped onto the boundary rope, turning a potential dismissal into a six.
The missed opportunity proved costly for India, as Brook went on to dominate the innings. His counter-attacking hundred was his first in a fourth-innings pursuit. Together with Joe Root, Brook orchestrated a 195-run partnership for the fourth wicket, leaving the Indian bowlers visibly fatigued.
Brook reached his century in just 91 balls, with 12 fours and two sixes. Shortly before tea, he was dismissed when his bat flew out of his hands while attempting another big hit off Deep, and Siraj completed the catch at mid-off.
Brook's innings has been the defining moment of the Test, with his aggressive approach leaving India searching for answers. His performance has added his name to the record books, as he became the ninth batter in the series to cross the 400-run mark. Shubman Gill currently leads the series with 754 runs, followed by Joe Root (537), KL Rahul (532), Ravindra Jadeja (516), and Brook (481).
At the end of the fourth day, England were 339/6, needing just 35 more runs to win, while India needed four wickets to level the series. However, bad light and rain forced an early end to the day's play, leaving the match finely poised for a thrilling conclusion on the final day.
Brook's overall Test record speaks volumes of his talent. In 24 matches, he has scored 2,281 runs at an average of 58.48, including 8 centuries and a top score of 317. His aggressive batting style and ability to score quickly have made him a key player for England in all formats of the game.
