Harry Brook

Harry Brook can't be stopped. The 24-year-old brought up his fourth Test century at Wellington's Basin Reserve on Friday afternoon to rescue England on day ...

The hosts won the toss and elected to bowl on a green wicket. His 184 came off 169 balls. Brook was player of the match in the first Test with back-to-back half centuries to help England to a 267-run win.

New Zealand had reduced England to 21 for three on a green pitch in Wellington.

England were rocking now, but in Root and Brook they found a partnership to rebuild around. Henry doubled down on his strong start by picking up Ollie Pope with another fine delivery, attacking the off stump and taking a thick edge that flew to Michael Bracewell at third slip. That put Crawley straight back into the spotlight but he was unable to summon a convincing response to the questions marks that continue to follow him.

Zak Crawley (2), Ben Duckett (9) and Ollie Pope (10) were all dismissed within the first seven overs, leaving England reeling at 21 for three. Matt Henry ...

"I looked to put pressure on the bowler and be as positive as possible," he said. Brook was man in the match for his scores of 89 and 54 in the first test, both of which were made at better than a run a ball and helped take that match away from New Zealand. England reinforced the superiority over New Zealand the visitors showed in the first test which they won by 267 runs and they now look likely to become the first team to beat New Zealand in a test series at home for six years.

New Zealand had opted to go into this Test with just three frontline quicks, bringing back Matt Henry and also selecting top-order batter Will Young in place of ...

Pope fired off a volley of attacking shots in response but he was soon gone, as Henry jagged one away on an off-stump line to find the edge. England were on the back foot, but soon began landing their punches in a familiar counterattack. Henry beat Duckett with a beauty in his first over, although a review only proved the ball had flicked the trouser pocket. Henry struck twice in his first three overs and Southee added a third as Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope and Ben Duckett all failed to make much headway. Southee was dispatched for three consecutive boundaries in his fifth over, and that set the tone for Brook's approach; in all, 24 fours and five sixes came from his bat during another coruscating display. He walked off with the weather closing in again, but with England in a far sunnier mood.

England batter Harry Brook completed his fourth Test century off 107 balls on opening day of the second Test in Wellington.

The second session has belonged to England so far as Brook and Root partnership put on 200 runs for the fourth wicket off just 262 balls in spite of losing three early wickets. Earlier, New Zealand captain Tim Southee won the toss and combined with Matt Henry on a greenish pitch to have England 21-3 in the seventh over. Southee furnished the second with a ball pitched across Duckett which flew wide of Bracewell, who juggled it but took the catch diving to his left. The young Sunrisers Hyderabad batter hammered his first six of the innings off New Zealand all-rounder Daryl Mitchell. Brook and Root partnership brought up fifty off 73 balls for the fourth wicket. Brook came into bat in just the 7th over of the match, joining former skipper Joe Root in the middle after New Zealand skipper Tim Southee had dismissed opener Ben Duckett for 9.

Harry Brook becomes the only player to cross 800 runs within the first nine Test innings. The English batter took only 803 deliveries to reach this mark.

The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.) [February 24, 2023] English batter Harry Brook has become the first cricketer ever to reach 800 Test runs within his first nine innings.

An absurd 184 from Harry Brook and a classy century from Joe Root on day one against New Zealand have England on track for seven-straight under coach ...

It was a false dawn, however, and even a session in which England suffered three early losses concluded with 101 runs on the board. This master and apprentice alliance was a record for any English pairing on New Zealand soil, going past the 281 runs shared by Graham Thorpe and Andrew Flintoff at Christchurch in 2002. At times Brook simply backed away and carted straight him down the ground baseball style, Wagner shipping nearly seven an over on a supposed green top. Bracewell then produced a collective gasp from the sell-out crowd, diving full stretch to his left after Ben Duckett’s hard-handed push at Southee on nine. By the time he strode off he was 184 not out from 169 balls, this his fourth hundred in his sixth Test match and unquestionably his best. The right-hander has also done this at a strike-rate of 99.38.

The pair came together with England 21 for three but reached stumps with the score 315 for three.

Having showed off his blunt power game, Brook was now threading balls to the third man boundary. On 99 Brook threaded a cut to the ropes, celebrating what is fast becoming a familiar achievement with Root. First to fall was Zak Crawley, nicking Henry behind with just two to his name, his latest unconvincing response to question marks over his place in the side. Henry picked up another when his attacking off stump line proved too good for Ollie Pope, who sent a thick edge flying to Bracewell in the cordon. Root, who survived a first-ball lbw appeal, flew under the radar as he settled in for a long stay, but Brook’s natural exuberance carried him past 50 by lunch. He thrashed the Kiwi attack to all parts, driving hard and true, pulling with authority and throwing his hands any hint of width.

The tourists had been 21-3 after being asked to bat on a green pitch at the Basin Reserve - Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope all falling cheaply. But ...

The stand with Brook is England's second-highest ever in a Test against New Zealand, with the prospect of more to come on Saturday. He reached three figures from 107 balls, his slowest hundred in Test cricket, by cutting the off-spin of Bracewell. "I think we were a perfect partnership there. Brook scored all around the wicket. At that point he hit successive sixes of Daryl Mitchell, whose fill-in medium pace was singled out for the harshest treatment. He moved up and down the gears.

England slipped to 21-3 at Basin Reserve after New Zealand won the toss and chose to bowl first; Harry Brook helped lead the revival for the tourists with ...

Like I've said plenty of times, look to put pressure on the bowler and be as positive as possible. Even then though, the 32-year-old was able to showcase his array of shots as New Zealand's bowlers had little answer to the questions posed by him and Brook. There were a few little miscues into gaps and whatnot which if was a little bit half-hearted, I might have been caught on at times. The 25-year-old's innings saw him equal the great Don Bradman's feat of scoring four centuries in his first six Tests. The tourists slumped to 21-3 early on after losing the toss but closed the day on 315-3, with the recovery led by the Yorkshire duo of Brook and Root who put on the highest-ever fourth-wicket stand with an unbeaten 294 at Basin Reserve. England slipped to 21-3 at Basin Reserve after New Zealand won the toss and chose to bowl first; Harry Brook helped lead the revival for the tourists with his highest Test score of 184 not out; Joe Root hit his 29th Test century too as the duo put on an unbeaten fourth-wicket stand of 294

Harry Brook and Joe Root both scored brilliant centuries for England as they reached the close of play on day one of the second Test in Wellington on 315-3 ...

Able to sit back and watch Brook take charge at the other end, Root found his rhythm as he scored just seven boundaries and pinched most of his runs by rotating the strike. the rhythms of the game, I've maybe got a bit caught up in it. While Brook has slotted into England's new positive and aggressive mindset with ease, Root admitted ahead of this Test that he had "maybe got a bit caught up in it". In the recent past it's a case of ... "He had some luck at the beginning, a couple of inside-edges past the stumps. His range of stroke play, power and timing was on show throughout his innings, which was particularly impressive given the match situation when he arrived at the crease.

The pair came together came together with the pressure on, England slumping to 21 for three after being put in on a green pitch at Basin Reserve, ...

Having showed off his blunt power game, Brook was now threading balls to the third man boundary. On 99 Brook threaded a cut to the ropes, celebrating what is fast becoming a familiar achievement with Root. Henry picked up another when his attacking off stump line proved too good for Ollie Pope, who sent a thick edge flying to Bracewell in the cordon. First to fall was Zak Crawley, nicking Henry behind with just two to his name, his latest unconvincing response to question marks over his place in the side. Root, who survived a first-ball lbw appeal, flew under the radar as he settled in for a long stay, but Brook's natural exuberance carried him past 50 by lunch. He thrashed the Kiwi attack to all parts, driving hard and true, pulling with authority and throwing his hands any hint of width.

PAUL NEWMAN IN WELLINGTON: Brook made a stunning unbeaten 184, his fourth Test century in just his sixth appearance, as England recovered from 21 for three.

‘We were moving up and down the pitch and trying to rotate the strike and create a partnership. ‘We were just trying to put the bowlers off their lengths,’ added Brook. One of the things I’ve worked on is staying level headed.’

Coach Brendon McCullum's 302 wouldn't be out of the question, but run machine Harry Brook is only eyeing his father's top score for starters.

Southee swung the ball early and lured Ben Duckett into a false shot but struggled for consistency. Several well directed Henry bouncers unsettled Brook but it didn’t last, and the best they could hope for was an inside edge or two, or a mistimed clout sailing just wide of fielders. “No, I haven’t thought about that at all,” he said with a grin. He finished with 2-64 off 15 overs, clearly the pick. Could his coach Brendon McCullum’s epic 302, posted against India at the Basin Reserve nine years ago, even loom into view if he gets a flyer? Brook never let up from the moment he clattered home skipper Tim Southee for three successive boundaries.

Brook ended day one of the second Test against New Zealand unbeaten on 184.

“One of the things I’ve really tried to do is stay as level headed as possible, but it’s been a good few months. His early statistics even bear up to comparison against the great Sir Brook’s knock of 184 not out on day one of the second Test in Wellington followed up his tons in Rawalpindi, Multan and Karachi as he continued his sensational start to life on the big stage.

Harry Brook smashed an unbeaten 184 in the second Test between England and New Zealand in Wellington and former England skipper Sir Alastair Cook has made a ...

[IPL](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/indian-premier-league), is he going to get burnt out at some stage? [Sir Don Bradman](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/sir-donald-bradman), with Cook believing Brook's century against New Zealand to be his best yet. "I wouldn't know exactly what to do as a captain against a man in Brook's form, because he's got every option covered," Cook said on BT Sport. "But some of these shots you can only dream of and the confidence to play them and the skill to be able to consistently hit cleanly in the right areas - it's been an absolute pleasure to sit here and watch a Harry Brook masterclass. [Sir Alastair Cook](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/alastair-cook) believes Harry Brook will go on to become "one of the all-time great players", having made such an outstanding start to his [England](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/england-cricket-team) career. [T20 World Cup](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/world-t20) winner, Brook has enjoyed his best form in Test cricket where he now averages more than 100 after [smashing an unbeaten 184](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/cricket/england-harry-brook-joe-root-29300083) against [New Zealand](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/new-zealand-cricket-team) in the second Test in Wellington.

PAUL NEWMAN IN WELLINGTON: Nobody in the rich history of Test cricket has scored more runs than this remarkable young Yorkshireman after just nine Test ...

And to think Brook was raised in the village of Burley-in-Wharfedale, just 13 miles from where Sutcliffe lived in Cross Hills. For all the faith England have placed in him and their insistence he can play match-winning innings he continues to under-achieve. There was even a scooped six off the hapless Mitchell. ‘Bradmanesque’ was a term used liberally at the Basin Reserve today to describe Brook and why not? Jonny Bairstow will be back this summer and unless he goes big in the second innings here it should be Crawley, and not the favourite in Ben Foakes, who makes way for him. It was the day Harry Brook went from being England’s next great batsman to a current great one.

Having ended the day unbeaten on a career-best 184, he now looks forward to drawing level with his father's first-class highest of 210.

So that's in the back of my mind at the minute," he said. In fact, he also has a shot at besting his head coach: it was on this ground in 2014 that Brendon McCullum registered his top score of [302 against India](https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/india-tour-of-new-zealand-2013-14-667633/new-zealand-vs-india-2nd-test-667653/full-scorecard). There could be a bad moment from the corner and anything could happen, so enjoy the good moments. I've just said now actually good times at the minute, but just around the corner there might be bad times so you've got to enjoy these moments and cash in as much as I can. The 24-year-old heads into Saturday unbeaten on a career best score of 184. "It (the pitch) always gets easier when the ball gets a bit older.

The contrasting styles led to a switch between looking at the past enduring into the present and the future happening right in front of it.

Having reasoned the early strong form under Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes after Root gave up the captaincy, this first century since July 2022 marks the beginning of a new chapter. The compulsion to push the game into fast-forward was affecting previously immaculate decision-making. Even Brook's words speak of an emotion to what followed from the seventh over that carried them through to the 65th: "I've always enjoyed watching Rooty bat and probably enjoy batting with him more than I enjoy watching him." Much like seamers varying their positions on the crease, both batters made constant little shifts here and there to instil bits of doubt in the minds of an attack. It was the treatment of Mitchell that was perhaps an example of how they tag-teamed the recovery. "And obviously as a bowler you can't really see that when you're running in so that was probably quite tricky for them to bowl at." The early success of Matt Henry and Southee came through a length that targeted the top of off stump and then let whatever green from that area of the pitch that wanted to come to the party do its thing. The only thing in common before they set about their currently unbeaten stand of 294 was the score of 21 when they arrived at the crease. With a ball to go in the over, Root charged, meeting Neil Wagner on the full, eventually puncturing the on side. Scoring areas were varied: Root primarily leg side, particularly through square leg and midwicket; Brook pretty much everywhere, but largely down the ground and through extra cover, with 101 coming in those regions. The common goal was to rebuild, but they had very different ideas of how to go about this escape. The rains had arrived to fill the Basin at around 4.50pm, the winds blowing across his eyeline as he lined up the leg side for the two runs needed for three figures.

Harry Brook earned plenty of praise for his counter-attacking 184* off 169 deliveries on day one of the second New Zealand Test.

[@Harry_Brook_88]we are witnessing one of the great cricket talents emerging in front of our eyes. One of the most sublime test match hundreds in recent memory. To score 184* (169) from 21-3 is outrageous. [February 24, 2023] Brook ended the day on 184*, piling on an unbeaten 194-run stand with Joe Root, who also scored a hundred. Walking in to bat at No.5, he started off aggressively, hitting four fours in the first 11 deliveries that he faced.

Former England opener Geoffrey Boycott believes Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood could have success if they target Harry Brook with the short ...

[Australia](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/australia-cricket-team) in this summer's [Ashes](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/the-ashes) if they target him with the short ball. Just instinctively hitting at the ball and making good contact isn't good enough. "We have all at some time or other made the mistake of hitting at the ball and getting out. I made that mistake." He instinctively hooks up and with the extra pace and quality in their seamers hooking up can be a 'getting out' shot. I got out to Keith Boyce caught at fine leg by Alvin Kallicharran. "Control is the key. The ex- [England](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/england-cricket-team) opener expects the extra pace of [Pat Cummins](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/patrick-cummins) and [Mitchell Starc](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/mitchell-starc) and the awkward bounce of [Josh Hazlewood](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/josh-hazlewood) to be a real problem for Brook, given he likes to take on the short ball. [West Indies](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/west-indies-cricket-team). [South Africa's](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/south-africa-cricket-team) Marco Jansen caught at fine leg and Jansen is only lively fast medium. [Telegraph](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/2023/02/19/harry-brook-englands-best-strokeplayer-since-kevin-pietersen/), Boycott said: "I feel this summer the Australians will challenge him with the short ball. [Geoffrey Boycott](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/geoffrey-boycott) has been hugely impressed by the start Harry Brook has made to his Test career, labelling him the "best natural strokeplayer England have had since [Kevin Pietersen](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/kevin-pietersen)".

Here, the PA news agency looks at some of the best examples from February 24. Football. England pay tribute on the 30th anniversary of World Cup-winning captain ...

Former England captain Michael Vaughan was among those to be impressed by Harry Brook’s start to life at Test level. Bastian Schweinsteiger had cheeky dig at a former team-mate. England pay tribute on the 30th anniversary of World Cup-winning captain Bobby Moore’s death.