England pulled off a thrilling 22-run win at Lord’s in the third Test, but behind the cricket was a fiery exchange that added to the drama.
As India and England gear up for the fourth Test at Old Trafford, Manchester on Wednesday, July 23, English batter Harry Brook has opened up about what really fired up the hosts late in the match.
Brook admitted the English side was fully aware of India’s aggressive intent during that phase and decided as a team to respond in the right moment.
Follow The Sporting News India on WhatsApp
Harry Brook about the Lord’s flashpoint
Brook didn’t shy away from speaking on the aggressive scenes that unfolded in the fourth innings at Lord’s.
According to him, India’s intense verbal aggression on Day 3, particularly when Jasprit Bumrah and other Indian players were giving it to Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, became a turning point.
“Them lads went hard at Creeps (Crawley) and Ducky (Duckett) that night when Bumrah bowled that single over. We watched that, we reassessed and we thought that it was the right time to go back at them,” Brook told reporters in Manchester.
MORE: Anshul Kamboj joins the India squad as a cover for Arshdeep Singh
The English side came out fired up the next day, and Brook admitted the decision to return the favour was deliberate. The final two days became heated, with both teams locked in verbal battles.
“I’ve had a lot of compliments. Everybody said that it was awesome to watch. It looked like 11 vs two out there when we were fielding and it was good fun. It was tiring but made fielding a lot more enjoyable,” he added.
Did England’s sledging impact India’s batting under pressure?
Brook believes that England’s fiery comeback had a real impact on the Indian dressing room, especially while chasing a low target of 193 on a worn-out pitch. India collapsed from a position of strength, falling short by just 22 runs.
“Yeah, I think so. I think it put them under a little bit more pressure. Obviously, chasing a low score on a tough pitch might have given them that little bit of added pressure. Thankfully, they ended up crumbling and we won the game,” he said.
MORE: Which Indian batters have scored a Test century at Old Trafford in Manchester?
The match saw emotions running high, especially when Ravindra Jadeja was left stranded after India’s last three wickets fell cheaply, including Mohammed Siraj, who was the final batter out.
As the series heads to a crucial stage with England leading 2-1, expect more intensity, both on and off the field, when the fourth Test kicks off at Old Trafford.