Worcestershire’s Ethan Brookes reflected on a day to remember, as his sparkling 140 set Worcestershire on their way to a first-innings total of 333, in an outstanding individual knock that put the away side in a superb position early on day two.
Sensational figures of 6-42 from Khurram Shahzad put the skids on Warwickshire’s reply, as the hosts were bowled out for 184, before Jake Libby and Gareth Roderick made it through to the close unscathed, as Worcestershire enjoyed one of their best days of the season.
Brookes’ highest ever first-class score, was a poetic one. Against his former side, with his family in attendance, the 24-year-old came up clutch for his side once again when it mattered most – and he had no intentions of hiding his passion when he reached the century milestone.
“It was a brilliant feeling, one that you don’t get a lot, so I just tried to cherish it.
“I am quite proud of my performance.
“My Dad was here, Granddad and his partner, Mom was watching Henry today because my brother’s there, but I’m sure she was watching.
“They were sat up on the right hand side, so I acknowledged them. I think it was just passion, like I say in every interview I really love Worcestershire and enjoy playing my cricket with this team. So yeah, just excitement and joy.”
After a turgid day yesterday for many of the Worcestershire batters, who toiled hard for slow rewards, Brookes bucked the trend and batted for the long-haul, finishing the day 80*.
By the time he was dismissed this morning, he had counter-punched in exemplary fashion, facing 169 balls all told for his 140, hitting 11-fours and eight sixes in the process.
As his side came out to field, the onus was very much on the bowlers to ensure a quick start – and it was Pakistan international Khurram, who provided exactly that.
His devastating spell of bowling never let the hosts settle, as he extracted any movement in the surface and consistently challenged the batters in and around their off-stump, on his way to collecting six-wickets.
Brookes, said it was a textbook display of seam bowling, but also paid tribute to Adam Finch, who’s figures of 3-40 proved just as significant for the visitors, before they closed the day with a lead of 180 and ten-wickets in hand.
“Especially on debut, it was brilliantly good pace, very good accuracy and I think he just showed us what an international bowler looks like.
“He has a bit of zip off the surface, so he gets a bit more than the others. I thought Finchy bowled exceptionally well today, running hard hit the wicket. And again, got three weeks I think so, yeah credit to him as well.
“He [Khurram] got it reversing towards the end, then it’s very difficult to face. Good pace, skiddy, and then obviously it is coming back at you as well.”
