Pak vs Eng – Harry Brook is looking for a strong response after a rare outing in Pakistan

“There was a small stain on the outside of the stump,” Sajid explained. “When he faced his first ball, I told Rizi bye [Mohammad Rizwan] that if he plays like this again, I’ll get him out.” Brook backed off as Sajid had predicted, looking to punch through cover, but was hit inside his edge as the ball landed and his leg stump bounced back.

Brendon McCullum, the England coach, was on board after the second Test when he heard that Sajid was revealing his plans to Brook. “He bowls well,” McCullum said. “He’s an exciting cricketer, and he’s a big player for us, and he tries to put pressure on the opposition… Sometimes, when you do that, you make mistakes and you’re out.”

One quiet Test after three hundreds is not enough to inform any long-term worries, but Brook said on Tuesday he was discussing game plans against Sajid and Noman ahead of this week’s decision. “It’s clear that both of them will play a big role in their team,” he said. “Hopefully, it pays off and I play a big role in the game.”

Brook agreed with Sajid’s assessment of his penchant for playing in the background. “I love you,” she said. “It gives you more time to play spin. It gives you different places to play. I’m not saying I won’t do that: I’ll look to play on the back foot, and I’ll look to put him under pressure.”

It’s hardly a problem that has plagued him in his scouting career: so far, Brook rates more with spin (67.81) than seam (57.70). But the reason why his twin failed miserably was that, having missed England’s tour to India on compassionate leave, he was playing for the first time in a field heavily weighted in favor of bowlers.

It’s been a long season for Brook: since the start of April, he’s been more or less restless, with 35 appearances in all formats including eight Tests, five ODIs as acting captain, and a T20 World Cup. Thursday’s Rawalpindi Test will finally come to an end, even if it will get a short break before England travel to New Zealand.

As a three-form player, Brook is getting used to the relentlessness of the international schedule and will soon get used to opponents targeting what they see as potential weaknesses. If he can overcome both pitfalls and maintain his impressive three-figure average in Pakistan, it will go a long way towards England topping the series.