Brook century guarantees England victory over Australia before rain arrives

On a chilly night at Chester-le-Street came an England performance to warm the cockles of the hardy home supporters. It was ended by late rain that swept in but through Harry Brook’s sublime unbeaten 110, this victory against Australia hinted at progress and clawed one back in a previously one-sided series.

The two teams travel to Lord’s for the fourth instalment on Friday with Australia, now 2-1 up, doubtless keen to seal matters at the ground that gave a number of them an earful during the Ashes last summer.

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There was no such hostility at the Riverside, just 14,000 punters in zipped-up overcoats roaring England to the finish line before the soggy conclusion and what became a 46-run win via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method.

Tasked with chasing down 305 after Alex Carey fired once more with an unbeaten 77, England tripped out of the blocks when Mitchell Starc sent Phil Salt and Ben Duckett packing with the new ball. But from a perilous 11 for two in the third over, and with Will Jacks delivering a slick 84 from No 3, Brook steered his side to 254 for four in the 38th over and thus ahead of the rate when the heavens opened.

Slotting 13 fours and two sixes, and reaching his maiden one-day international century from 87 balls as he squirted Starc through the vacant slip area, this may well prove a significant innings for Brook. After all, like a number of players in this rebooted England side, the 25‑year‑old is chiefly learning the rhythms of 50-over batting at the highest level because of the shemozzle that is the domestic schedule. Days like this one are experience banked.

Women's starting salaries in professional domestic cricket will be the same as their male counterparts from next year, the England and Wales Cricket Board has announced.

The initiative is being implemented to persuade young women a cricket career is "enticing" and not simply "viable", according to Beth Barrett-Wild, the ECB director of the women's professional game.

It has also been agreed each of the eight first-class counties awarded tier-one status as part of an overhaul of the women's domestic structure from 2025 must invest at least £500,000 on players' wages. A salary cap of £800,000 has been confirmed, with minimum squad sizes of 15 contracted players.

"Equalising starting salaries across our men's and women's professional domestic game is another positive step forward for women's cricket in England and Wales," Barrett-Wild said. "It's important that our players are remunerated appropriately, and that cricket is seen not just as a viable career option for women, but an enticing one. Increasingly, every decision we take is about making cricket as attractive a sport for young girls as it is for boys.

"We know we still have a lot of work to do in this space. But we are moving at pace, and the news today represents another significant building block in the journey to gender equity in the game."

The equalisation of salaries will apply at "rookie" level, usually a player's first professional contract, and at the "senior pro" position for those who have established themselves in first teams.

Emma Reid, the Professional Cricketers' Association director of player rights and women's cricket, said: "This is a big step towards reaching parity and a journey that the PCA is fully committed to achieving.

"But there is still further work to do. With the women's teams under the umbrella of the first-class counties, the PCA will continue to lobby for parity across all areas of the professional game." PA Media

They are also informative as to the best of Brook. The right‑hander’s crunching aerial drives and back‑foot cuts were dazzling shots, no question, the kind that mark him out as one of the best ball-strikers on the circuit. But it was all built on a desire to keep a still head at the crease and play the ball late, suggesting the “who cares?” comment he let slip after Trent Bridge was not exactly the truth.

“I think people took that a little bit the wrong way,” Brook said, having described this first victory in temporary charge as a relief first and foremost. “You have to go out and play fearlessly and almost have that ‘who cares?’ attitude. But that’s not ‘who cares if we lose’. You just don’t want to have fear of getting out.”

This was also the Yorkshireman’s first century against Australia in any format – a decent one to get out of the way before more significant battles in future – and built on a rollicking stand of 156 from 147 balls in which Jacks took the early risks. Even after Cameron Green claimed a Surrey double by removing Jacks and Jamie Smith with a couple of short balls, Liam Livingstone emerged in a bristling mood to smoke 33 from 20 balls and ensure enough breathing space on DLS.

“Full credit to Harry,” said Andrew McDonald, the Australia head coach. “He’s an impressive player and is going to have a long career and will give us some headaches over the journey. Sometimes, you’ve got to take your hat off to the opposition. This is one of those moments. The way he iced that game was very impressive.”

McDonald went on to point out the difference when Adam Zampa is missing, the leg-spinner having been the latest to succumb to illness in the touring camp. Travis Head was also rested, with Australia’s 304 for seven instead owing much to a late acceleration rather than his breakneck starts. With 10 overs left they were 200 for five but still managed to trowel a further 104 runs through Carey’s latest silken knock and a 26-ball 44 from Aaron Hardie that slightly spoiled Jofra Archer’s figures.

Back after a breather at Headingley, Archer had returned two for 36 from his first eight overs, bouncing out Matthew Short early and removing Steve Smith for 60 thanks to Brydon Carse’s sparkling catch on the rope.

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For all the talk of a personal duel, going back to a bloodcurdling Ashes encounter five years ago, this was the first time Archer has dismissed Smith in international cricket. The only nod to that day at Lord’s came when Smith ended up on his backside attempting a funky scoop.

But Archer’s final two overs shipped 31 runs, Hardie pumping him into the stands twice as the radar malfunctioned. Brook admitted later to being a seamer light, even if Jacob Bethell and Jacks did offset this by removing Green for 42 and Marnus Labuschagne for a duck.

Carse was arguably the pick overall with 10 overs of thud that featured a superb working over of Mitch Marsh before finding the edge. Like Brook’s innings, it seemed like a moment that could have significance down the line.