Brook Joins Gayle in Elite Club After Historic ODI Double Ton
Harry Brook makes history with a maiden ODI double ton against Sri Lanka, joining Chris Gayle in a rare elite club of all-format power hitters.
England white-ball captain Harry Brook has etched his name into the history books, joining West Indies legend Chris Gayle in one of cricket's most exclusive circles. In a breathtaking display of power-hitting against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi, Brook smashed his maiden ODI double ton, becoming the first Englishman to ever achieve the feat in One Day Internationals.
A Masterclass in Raw Power
Brook's innings was nothing short of a demolition job. He reached his milestone of 202 runs in just 116 balls, decorating his knock with 21 boundaries and 10 massive sixes. Not only did he break the national ceiling for England, but he also eclipsed Indian star Shubman Gill's record for the fastest ODI double century, reaching the 200-run mark in a mere 114 deliveries.
The 'Elite Two' List
With this performance, Brook has entered a two-man elite list alongside the 'Universe Boss', Chris Gayle. According to Cricinfo, Brook and Gayle are now the only players to have achieved the following trio of milestones across formats:
- A triple century in Test cricket.
- A double century in ODIs.
- A century in T20 Internationals.
While Gayle holds two Test triple tons (333 against Sri Lanka and 317 against South Africa) and an ODI double ton (215 against Zimbabwe), Brook recently added a monstrous triple century against Pakistan in Multan in October 2024 to his resume, alongside two T20I hundreds.
Dominance in Pakistan and Beyond
Brook has developed a particular fondness for batting in Pakistan. In 18 matches and 21 innings in the country, he has amassed 1,333 runs at a staggering average of 74.05. His overall international record is equally impressive; in 158 appearances, he has scored 7,049 runs with 16 centuries and 36 fifties.
His current form is peerless, leading the international run-scoring charts this year with 1,815 runs across 37 ODIs and 41 innings, maintaining a strike rate of 122.63.
England's Massive Total
The match began with England being put in to bat, where Tom Banton (50) and Ben Duckett (29) provided a solid 74-run opening stand. After a brief wobble that saw England at 85/2, the Yorkshire duo of Harry Brook and Joe Root stabilized the innings with a massive 159-run partnership.
Joe Root Makes History
While Brook stole the headlines with his double ton, Joe Root secured his own piece of history. By scoring 69 runs in 66 balls, Root became the first Englishman to ever cross the 8,000-run mark in ODI cricket. He now stands at 8,005 runs in 197 matches.
The Final Assault
England's momentum didn't stop with Root and Brook. Will Jacks provided a blistering finish, smashing 66* off just 30 balls, including eight fours and three sixes, to propel England to a mammoth total of 429/4.
The Sri Lankan bowling attack struggled to contain the onslaught. While Dunith Wellalage was the most successful bowler with 2/56, others faced a tougher day:
- Eshan Malinga: 0/91 (10 overs)
- Dilshan Madushanka: 0/89 (10 overs)
- Dasun Shanaka: Conceded 74 runs in just six overs.