Harry Brook has admitted he put his full faith in Joe Root as the pair helped England to a record-breaking first Test victory against Pakistan in Multan.
The duo put on an astonishiny partnership of 454 during England’s opening innings – the fourth-highest for any wicket in the history of Test cricket.
Brook went on to hit an astonishing 317, with Root, who overtook Sir Alastair Cook as England’s all-time record run-scorer earlier this week, finishing on 262.
England declared for a total of 823, leaving the visitors with a lead of 267 before a late surge on Day Four saw Pakistan 152 for six at stumps.
It provided a platform for the bowlers, who needed just one session on Day Five, to skittle Pakistan for 220 all out, confirming England’s victory by an innings.
As a result, England became the first Test cricket team ever to win by an innings after conceding 500 runs in the first innings.
Commenting after the match, Brook, who was unsurprisingly handed the Player of the Match award for his exploits with the bat, told the BBC: “Obviously I’ve enjoyed it a lot. It was tough out there with the heat.
“It was good to be out there with Joe Root in that partnership.
“We just tried to bat as long as possible, to be honest. We chatted at lunch and set out a plan to score as many runs as we can.”
Score runs they did. Brook became just the sixth Englishman to hit a triple century, doing so in the second-fastest time.
The Yorkshireman blitzed his way to 317, needing just 322 deliveries to score the match-winning total.
Whereas Root’s double-century was his sixth in England white, with only Wally Hammond on seven boasting more.
To top that off, the Multan mauling was just the third instance two batters hit over 250 in the same innings and the first time it’s ever happened for England.
Former England skipper Root hailed Brook’s genius, adding: “I’m very glad he was born in England and not in Pakistan because his record here is just a joke.
“I think one of the best things is to come back to conditions where you’ve had previous success and double down on that.
“To see him get another massive score here is awesome, but he’s got such a complete game: he can score all around the wicket, he plays seam well, spin well and high pace well, and that’s a pretty good recipe for scoring runs.”
After securing a historic 3-0 whitewash two years ago, Brendon McCullum’s side are well-placed to secure back-to-back series wins in Pakistan for the first time ever.
Action resumes in Multan for the second Test on Tuesday morning.
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