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Harry Brook says it was the right call to miss England's Test tour of India to be with his ill grandmother Pauline as he dedicates two Yorkshire centuries to her memory

6 months ago 39
  • England batsman Brook came home from India with his grandmother Pauline ill 
  • She passed away in February with Brook unable to return to the tour  
  • He has scored two Yorkshire centuries during early rounds of the season

By Lawrence Booth

Published: 08:22 BST, 29 April 2024 | Updated: 08:22 BST, 29 April 2024

Harry Brook has admitted it was a 'big decision' to pull out of England's Test tour of India, and has dedicated his two early-season hundreds for Yorkshire to his grandmother Pauline, who died in February.

'I'm glad I did come home,' said Brook. 'I hadn't played hundreds of games for England, so to just turn down a big Test tour like that was a big decision to make. But she comes before all of that.

'It was a very tough period, but I'm glad I came back. I managed to take her out for a coffee in that first week. 


'I was still training with a mindset of trying to get back out for the last couple of Tests, all being well. Obviously it all disintegrated fairly quickly, so that didn't happen.

'Both of those hundreds and all of the runs I've scored so far this year are dedicated to her.'

Brook lost his grandmother Pauline in February with the England batsman returning from the Test tour of India to be with her

Harry Brook has scored two early season County Championship centuries for Yorkshire

Brook marks his half-century against Australia at Old Trafford in last summer's Ashes series 

The second of Brook's centuries came on Saturday against Derbyshire at Headingley, one of three matches washed out on Sunday. 

In the play that was possible, champions Surrey closed in on victory against Hampshire at The Oval, reducing the visitors to 116 for five, 92 shy of avoiding an innings defeat.

Shoaib Bashir, England's latest Test off-spinner, picked up two wickets for Somerset against Worcestershire at Kidderminster, including opener Jake Libby for 97. 

But a century for Gareth Roderick and a late flurry from Brett D'Oliveira and Joe Leach lifted Worcestershire to 451 for nine declared, a lead of 142.

In the other Division One game to escape the weather, Warwickshire struggled to 175 for five against Nottinghamshire at Edgbaston, despite 69 from Ed Barnard. They still trail by 225.

In the second division, an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 183 between Max Holden and Ryan Higgins, who both made hundreds, ensured Middlesex will go into the final day with a lead of 143 over Gloucestershire.

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