‘No reason why we can’t get them out’

HARRY BROOK insisted England were prepared for a couple of days in the dirt as they look to turn their record total of 657 into victory in their first Test in Pakistan for 17 years. With the hosts closing the second day on 181 without loss, that will not be easy but Brook, who contributed a superb 153 from 116 balls in only his second Test innings, said England would give it their best shot. ‘It’s a pretty nice wicket to bat on, as you can tell by our score,’ he said. ‘It’s going to be tough to get 20 wickets, but we’re going to give it a crack. ‘If it keeps getting lower and lower, and we keep bowling at the stumps, there’s no reason why we can’t get them all out.’ Having hit 24 in an over on the first day, Brook managed 27 in an over on the second — an England Test record — and later inked his century into the Rawalpindi honours board. ‘One of the things Ben Stokes said before play was that we’d broken some records yesterday, let’s try to break some more today,’ said Brook. ‘We had the freedom to go out and play however we wanted. I’m over the moon. Obviously it’s a dream come to true just to play Test cricket in the first place, but to get a 100 is very special.’ Meanwhile, Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ramiz Raja criticised a pitch which had produced 838 runs over the first two days for the loss of only ten wickets. He said: ‘I’m not happy at all. If you want to nail England on, for example, a spinning track, then we’ve got to prepare a pitch that turns from the first ball — rather than having this hodge podge where you get a half-baked pitch which is neither quick nor spins a lot.’ But Ramiz was full of praise for the way England had batted. ‘Hopefully we’re seeing a new template in Test cricket, and we want Pakistan to change course. It will take time for Subcontinent teams to have that mentality.’

RICKY PONTING suffered a health scare yesterday while commentating on Australia’s first Test against West Indies in Perth. The former Australia captain went to hospital as a precaution after complaining of dizziness but was said to be OK.