PAK vs ENG: Harry Brook reveals midday chat with Root that led to Multan 300

England’s star batsman Harry Brook revealed that he and teammate Joe Root had planned to make big runs at lunchtime on Day 4 of the Multan Test, which eventually saw Brook score a stunning 317 and Root made a resilient 262. Their efforts propelled England to a mammoth first innings total of 823, clearly outstripping Pakistan’s 556.

The Multan Test became a showcase for England’s batting prowess, largely due to the extraordinary 454-run partnership between Brook and Root, England’s highest Test partnership. Brook’s burning 317 was complemented by Root’s solid 262 as they decimated Pakistan’s bowling attack. Brook shared that during the lunch break, both batsmen agreed to pick up the run rate and go big, leading to England’s record total and total dominance.

PAK vs ENG 1st Test, Day 5: Highlights | Scoreboard

“I really enjoyed it. It was tough out there in the heat, and it was good to be out there with Rooty (Joe Root) … We were just buying time for as long as possible. To be honest, we had a chat in the lunch time. We set the plan. We knew we were going to bat for a while after lunch and try to score as many runs as we could,” Brook said in the post-match press conference.

Despite Pakistan’s strong start in the first innings, with centuries from Abdullah Shafique, captain Shan Masood and Agha Salman, they could not capitalize on their 556-run total. England’s bowlers, particularly Brydon Carse and Gus Atkinson, stepped up to bowl Pakistan out for a modest total of 220 for 9 in the second innings, with Abrar Ahmed unable to bat due to injury.

Jack Leach sealed England’s victory on Day 5 with three key wickets, including a spectacular dismissal of Shaheen Afridi, which ended Pakistan’s humiliation at home. The match was another disappointing defeat for Pakistan, following their previous series loss to Bangladesh. The Multan Test ended with England winning by an innings and 47 runs, further exposing Pakistan’s weaknesses in both their bowling and batting departments.

The win, highlighted by the historic partnership of Brook and Root, continues England’s dominance in Test cricket and further cements Brook’s status as a rising star on the international stage.