Brook falls short of a ton with first Test in the balance

HARRY BROOK fell one short of a hometown hundred as England’s first Test against India hung in the balance on day three at Headingley.

- By RORY DOLLARD

The Yorkshire crowd was poised and ready to celebrate the local boy's century as he faced up to Prasidh Krishna on 99 but instead shared his deflation as he turned a pull straight down the neck of the fine-leg fielder.

Brook, who had sprung a clearly telegraphed bouncer trap, threw his head back in dismay and dropped his bat as he trudged to the pavilion as the first Englishman to fall for 99 since Jonny Bairstow in 2017.

But his innings helped the hosts to a final score of 465 - just six runs behind India’s mark and enough to leave every result on the table.

Brydon Carse and Ben Stokes then picked up one wicket each as the tourists reached 90 for two to began rebuilding their lead.

Brook had picked up the baton from Ollie Pope after Saturday's star man was dismissed for 106 in the third, scoring the majority share in stands of 51, 73 and 49 with Stokes, Jamie Smith and Chris Woakes.

Every run would have been painful for Jasprit Bumrah, who had Brook caught for nought off a no-ball in the final over on the second evening, and there were further costly errors as he was dropped on 46 and 82.