Harry Brook struck a brilliant and aggressive century at The Oval, yet it wasn’t enough to carry his team over the line — and the joy of being named Player of the Series now feels bittersweet.
He edged out Joe Root for the accolade, earning the medal and the champagne bottle. Brook smiled briefly as he posed for photos, but the smile soon faded, revealing the emotions he carried underneath. Despite his stunning century and the award, one thought still haunted him: “If only I hadn’t played that shot…”
“That shot” refers to the moment he was dismissed — a turning point that sparked England’s collapse and India’s remarkable comeback.
When Brook walked out to bat on Day 4 of the Oval Test, England were wobbling at 106 for 3 in their chase of 374. It was his counter-attack that dragged England back into the contest, unsettling the in-form Indian pace attack. At the other end, Joe Root stood firm, the perfect partner.
Together, they guided England past 300, and for a while, victory looked inevitable. Brook was in top form, racing to a century off just 91 balls. After hitting back-to-back boundaries off Akash Deep, he went for a third — but mistimed it. His bat flew out of his hands toward square leg, while the ball went straight into the hands of the mid-off fielder.
He was dismissed for 111 off 98 balls. At the time, no one could’ve predicted the drama that was about to unfold. Brook acknowledged the crowd on his way out, as if he had just played a match-winning knock.
But what followed is now part of Test cricket folklore. England lost two more wickets that evening but still looked poised for victory. Then came a chaotic final morning. Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna bowled a sensational spell, triggering a collapse that saw England lose by just six runs — allowing India to draw the series.
In England, two players are awarded Player of the Series — one from each team. Root scored 537 runs in the series, Brook 481. But India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir selected Brook for the English side.
Still, after receiving the award, Brook’s thoughts were focused more on what could’ve been. He openly reflected on the moment that cost England the win and gave credit to India’s hero, Siraj.
“My mindset was to score as many runs as quickly as possible. If it had come down to needing just 40 more runs with me and Root still out there, the game would have been done. Even if I got out then, it wouldn’t have mattered. Obviously, it didn’t work out that way. It’s always interesting to think what could’ve happened. But yeah, now it definitely feels like — if only I hadn’t played that shot and got out…!”
“I thought we’d chase it down pretty easily this morning (Monday). But the way Siraj bowled — all the credit goes to him. I thought the pitch would settle down after using the roller, but under the cloudy skies, it came alive again. Siraj had an incredible series, and he finished it in style.”
Brook’s dismissal — his shot selection, the decision to go for one more boundary — has sparked plenty of debate. Many believe he took an unnecessary risk. But Brook explained the thinking behind his approach.
“I was definitely feeling very confident at that moment. I figured if we could get 30 more runs in the next couple of overs, the game would be done. That was my thinking. I always try to stay ahead in the game and put pressure back on the opposition. Of course, it would’ve been nice to be there till the end, but these things can’t be planned.”
Root’s presence at the other end also gave Brook the freedom to attack. Root, who was in sublime form, went on to score a century of his own. Brook believed Root would guide England home calmly.
“It never even crossed my mind that we could lose 7 wickets for 60 runs. Plus, Root was still out there — arguably the best Test batter in the world. I just thought, with him anchoring one end, I’d try to score quickly and finish the game. I had full faith that Root would be there at the end.”
After Brook’s exit, Root and young Jacob Bethell put on 31 runs. But Bethell fell to a reckless shot, and Root followed soon after for 105.
Even then, England were still ahead. On the final day, they needed just 35 runs with four wickets in hand. Despite Chris Woakes being injured, they had Jamie Smith and Jamie Overton at the crease — and Guts Atkinson, who had scored a century at Lord’s, waiting in the wings.
But that final morning belonged entirely to Siraj and India.
Looking back, many now point fingers at Brook. “If only he hadn’t been so aggressive,” some say. Yet, England captain Ben Stokes — who wasn’t part of the match — stood firmly behind him.
“Harry (Brook) got us into a fantastic position playing that way, putting the Indian bowlers under massive pressure and forcing them away from their ideal lengths.”
“I’m sure when he scored his century playing those same shots, everyone was applauding. Some of the strokes he played were just unbelievable. That shot he got out to — he played several like that earlier in the innings, and they were all praised at the time.”
