After a frustrating summer by his own high standards, Worcestershire all-rounder Ethan Brookes demonstrated his best-form with the bat against Gloucestershire on day three of his side’s Rothesay County Championship clash, which is finely poised on the eve of the final day.
Brookes showed patience, control and discipline in abundance, occupying the crease for nearly four-hours in his 233-ball innings that saw the 24-year-old produce with a game changing 66.
In a partnership worth 116 with fellow all-rounder Matthew Waite, Brookes steered his side to a first-innings lead of 99-runs, after the Pears were bowled out for 388.
Having made a handful of starts with the bat during the 2026 Division Two campaign, Brookes expressed his disappointment having not yet kicked on to hit the heights he would have liked before today.
Like I said about the partnerships, we were really valuing those and I think I’ve learned from my mistakes in the past where I have given my wicket away quite softly.
“I tried to really focus on my game today in batting time and being there for as long as possible.
“That’s probably the most amount I’ve ever faced in any cricket!
“I think it’s (the reverse sweep) very much a strength of mine, but I think I have had a little bit of a downfall with it and just not using my cricket brain this summer.
“I feel like I’ve not been in the form I wanted to be in, but I’ve been working really hard and I think it’s down to just switching my mind on more than anything when I’m batting.
“I played one today and it didn’t really work and I think that’s just me understanding my game a bit more, and there will be games where I might play it more.”
With a 99-run cushion heading into the evening session on the third day, Worcestershire’s bowling attack started in fine fashion when Beyers Swanepoel accounted for Joe Phillips 10 overs into the Gloucestershire reply.
In unrelenting conditions, the Pears persisted in their efforts to claim a valuable second wicket before the close, but the bowling unit went unrewarded as the visitors held on to reach the close 59-1.
Spinner Fateh Singh, who was expected to be involved heavily as the game went on, posed a hatful of questions to the away side in the final hour, but Ben Allison was the seamer who created the most clear-cut chances on Sunday evening.
Hoping his side can make a positive start to the final day’s play, Brookes says the pitch is keeping everyone interested and his side are still of faith they can force a result.
“It has been a tough game for both sides. The wicket has taken spin quite well so it is an attritional game of cricket.
“We worked hard to get in front and get a lead, and we went out there with confidence in the second innings.
“There are balls that can get you out, it isn’t a flat pitch by any means – but it can just come off the pitch quite slow. You have to be funky with your fields and the deliveries you bowl.
“We hoped to take a few early wickets and then hope that spin will come into the game tomorrow.
“It would have been nice to take a few more wickets this evening. We created some really nice chances and I thought Ben bowled really well this evening, so a bit disappointing, but I think we’re still in a really good position if we take some early wickets tomorrow and drive that home then you know hopefully we’re batting tomorrow and chasing 100 or so.”
