Harry Brook breaks Sehwag's 20-year-old record with triple century against Pakistan; First Englishman in 34 years to reach 300

Harry Brook etched his name in cricketing history by hitting his maiden triple century in a stunning display of dominance on the fourth day of the opening Test against Pakistan in Multan. The 25-year-old, who continues to make waves at international level, reached the milestone alongside boundary-off spinner Saim Ayub, becoming only the sixth Englishman to achieve the feat in Test cricket.

He scored his remarkable 300 in just 310 balls, coupled with 28 fours and three sixes, leading England to a dominant position in the game. Brook was eventually dismissed for 317 off just 322 deliveries.

Brook surpassed Virender Sehwag's 20-year-old record in Multan as the former Indian batsman smashed 309 against Pakistan. It was the highest individual score at the venue and the only triple century score in Multan till Thursday.

Brooks' innings was the latest chapter in an already excellent start to his Test career. Brook has already scored three centuries in Pakistan in England's historic 3-0 series win in 2022 and has established himself as one of the brightest young talents in English cricket. His innings in Multan put him alongside English legends such as Andy Sandham, Len Hutton, Wally Hammond, Graham Gooch and Bill Edrich, who have also passed the 300-run mark in Tests.

Gooch was the last batsman to score a triple century for England before Brook, scoring 333 against India at Lord's.

Brook came to bat on the third day of the Test with England comfortably placed at 249/3 in the 50th over. Alongside Root, Brook made an incredible 454-run stand for the fourth wicket.

While Brooks' heroics took center stage, his senior partner Joe Root was unlucky not to reach his own triple century and was dismissed by Agha Salman for 262 shortly after lunch. The pair's monumental partnership helped England post a mammoth total that crossed the 800-run mark, giving them a lead of over 200 over Pakistan's first innings score of 556.

Criticism of the space conditions

However, Brooks' performance and England's dominance have once again raised concerns about the Multan pitch. Initially touted as a bowler-friendly wicket by Pakistan head coach Jason Gillespie, the surface has instead played into the hands of the batters. Critics have pointed out that the pitch is another example of Pakistan's recent trend of building flat tracks that offer little to bowlers.

This follows the controversy surrounding the Rawalpindi pitch in 2022, which earned two demerit points for being excessively batsman-friendly.

With Multan now under similar scrutiny, there is a growing consensus that such wickets, while producing high scores and individual milestones, are detrimental to the future of Test cricket.