Leeds: England batter Harry Brook entered the record books with a one-of-a-kind performance as the hosts pulled off a dramatic five-wicket victory over India in the opening Test of the five-match series at Headingley.
The right-hander became the first player in the history of Test cricket to score 99 in the first innings and a golden duck in the second. Brook played a determined knock in England’s first innings, narrowly missing out on a century after being dismissed for 99.
His innings were filled with drama, having survived a no-ball on zero from Jasprit Bumrah and two dropped chances at 46 and 82. However, his luck ran out when he holed out to Shardul Thakur at deep backward square leg off the bowling of Prasidh Krishna.
Oh, Harry Brook 😭
An incredible knock ends just short of 100 🙈 pic.twitter.com/gQwZg6NdS4
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 22, 2025
In the second innings, Brook lasted just one ball, nicking a delivery from Thakur behind the stumps to register a golden duck, a combination of scores never previously recorded in Test cricket.
Brook also became the third batter to be dismissed for 99 at Headingley. Former England captain Mike Atherton fell for the same score against South Africa in 1994, while Pakistan’s Saleem Malik was dismissed on 99 against England in 1987.
Additionally, Brook became only the second English player to be dismissed on 99 in a Test against India, joining Marcus Trescothick, who missed a century by one run in 2001.
Despite posting five individual centuries across both innings, a feat never previously followed by a defeat, India were unable to defend a formidable target.
Yashasvi Jaiswal (101), Shubman Gill (147), KL Rahul (137), and Rishabh Pant (134 and 118) all reached three figures. However, their efforts were not enough to halt England’s determined fourth-innings charge.
With the loss, India became the first team in Test cricket history to lose a match despite five of its batters scoring centuries, an unwanted record that overshadowed their strong batting display.
Chasing 371 runs in the final innings, England showcased their now-trademark attacking approach under coach Brendon McCullum and completed the second-highest successful run chase in Test history. The win gave England a 1–0 lead in the five-match series and reaffirmed their dominance in home conditions.
