Harry Brook has revealed the pivotal moment during the Lord's Test against India when England decided to ramp up the sledging, adding spice to an already intense encounter. The incident occurred during India's second innings, specifically after Jasprit Bumrah bowled a particularly fiery spell.
According to Brook, Bumrah's hostile spell, which included a barrage of bouncers and aggressive seam bowling, was the catalyst for England's change in approach. Brook noted that the intensity of Bumrah's bowling, coupled with the pressure of the situation, prompted the English players to engage in more verbal exchanges with the Indian batsmen.
"It was when Bumrah bowled that… spell," Brook said. "You could feel the tension in the ground. We knew we had to put them under pressure, and sometimes that involves a bit of banter."
The strategy seemed to work, as England managed to dismiss India for 170 in their second innings, securing a 22-run victory and a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. However, the sledging didn't go unnoticed, with several incidents sparking controversy and adding fuel to the fire between the two sides.
One particular incident involved Brook himself, who was seen engaging in a heated exchange with Indian all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy. Brook, who had previously played with Reddy at Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL, was heard questioning Reddy's aggressive demeanor, reminding him that he was much quieter during their time together in the IPL.
"Who do you think you are? I remember when we were with the Sunrisers, you didn't say anything there," Brook reportedly said to Reddy. He further added, "Jaddu needs to score all the runs. This is not IPL".
Ravindra Jadeja was also a target of England's sledging, with Brook and Ben Duckett both making comments aimed at the Indian all-rounder. In a moment captured on video, Brook could be heard saying, "Shouldn't he be in the side here, lads?" with Duckett adding, "It seems he is not gonna play that,". Brook then reiterated, "He shouldn't be in the side here, lads".
Jadeja responded to the sledging with a gritty innings of 61 not out, but it wasn't enough to prevent India from falling short of the target. Despite the loss, Jadeja's resilience was widely praised, with many acknowledging that he had let his bat do the talking in response to the English players' verbal volleys.
The on-field banter and sledging during the Lord's Test undoubtedly added an extra layer of intensity to the contest. While some viewed it as gamesmanship and a way to put pressure on the opposition, others criticized it as being unsportsmanlike. Regardless of opinion, it was clear that the moment Bumrah bowled that fiery spell, the atmosphere of the match shifted, and England decided to meet fire with fire, resulting in a memorable and controversial Test match.
The series continues with the fourth Test at Manchester, where Brook has reflected on the "needle" between the two sides and anticipates another hard-fought battle.
