Xplorich
Brook, the world’s top-ranked Test batter, came closest to a century at his home ground of Headingley. He was dismissed for 91 by Ali Usman, who returned figures of 5-92 for his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket.
Root scored 66, while Jordan Cox made 73. The pair added 150 runs after England resumed the day on 112-2. Rain caused a long delay to the start of play.
Dan Lawrence, playing his first Test in two years, also scored 51 at No. 6. However, like Brook, Cox and Root, he will feel he missed a chance to convert his half-century into a big score against Pakistan’s inconsistent bowling and erratic fielding.
Pakistan had earlier been bowled out for 171 in barely two sessions on Wednesday.
Brook dropped early, then punishes Pakistan
England scored at a rate of 4.46 runs per over, a pace that would not have looked out of place in the Bazball era that ended with the retirement of captain Ben Stokes and the firing of Brendon McCullum as Test coach.
However, England’s batters went about their scoring differently this time. Brook, in particular, was less flamboyant but remained as punishing as ever, hitting 13 fours.
He was dropped on 1 by stand-in Pakistan captain Salman Agha at second slip. After that, Brook hardly gave Pakistan another chance until Usman got one through onto the stumps via the batter’s back leg.
It would have been Brook’s first Test century since his 111 against India at The Oval in July last year.
Root and Cox build a big partnership
Root and Cox continued from where they had left off on Wednesday after play finally resumed.
The two almost matched each other run for run. Cox reached his first half-century in only his second Test appearance, just minutes before Root brought up his 109th Test fifty.
Root has now scored more than 14,000 runs in Test cricket, with only India great Sachin Tendulkar ahead of him.
Cox was dropped on 57 by Khurram Shahzad off a presentable caught-and-bowled chance. However, he eventually edged Usman behind. The batter reviewed the decision, perhaps believing he had hit his pad, but the edge was clear.
In the very next over, Root also departed. He missed a straight delivery from Khurram and was trapped lbw. He reviewed the decision, but the ball was shown to be hitting middle stump.
It was a missed opportunity for England’s new captain to score his national record-extending 42nd Test century.
Smith still unbeaten at stumps
England wicketkeeper Jamie Smith was unbeaten on 16 at stumps. He batted cautiously in the gloomy light during the final few overs of the day.
Jofra Archer was at the other end, unbeaten on 0.
England will resume Day 3 with a strong lead of 195 runs and still two wickets in hand.
