Watch: Harry Brook suddenly reeled away from the crease when he was on 99 in Yorkshire’s opening round fixture of the 2024 County Championship, clearly startled by an insect before he reached his century off the following delivery.

Brook made his return to professional cricket following a three month long break, against Leicestershire. He missed England’s Test series in India and withdrew from the 2024 IPL after a family bereavement, but was straight back to his best in Leeds. After rain washed out day three, Brook came out to bat on the final day when Yorkshire were 73-3. 35 balls later, Brook had reached a half-century which included seven fours and two sixes.

He slowed down slightly after the explosive start, but hit another seven fours on his way to three figures. While Brook was on 99* at one end, two wickets fell in the same over at the other. Ben Mike first dismissed Jonathan Tattersall and then Jordan Thompson, both lbw.

When Brook got back on strike, he was almost undone after a bizarre incident. As he faced up to Mike running in, tapping his bat on the ground in preparation, he suddenly flung his top hand away from his bat handle and rapidly reeled away backwards from the crease. It appeared that an insect had landed on his hand, startling him as faced up. The next ball was a beauty from Mike, which beat the bat, very nearly taking Brook’s inside edge through to the keeper.

However, he got a ball on his body next from Mike, and was able to tuck it round the corner down to the deep fine leg fielder to reach his century off 69-balls. Yorkshire promptly declared, and the match was drawn when Leicestershire reached 26-0.

Watch: Harry Brook startled on 99 below

Bee-autiful from Harry Brook

The Yorkshire batter gets an unexpected surprise before scoring his century! pic.twitter.com/6xjzCkdwUm

— Vitality County Championship (@CountyChamp) April 8, 2024

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