England’s rising batting sensation Harry Brook admitted that his seventh Test century during the series opener against New Zealand in Christchurch was riddled with fortune. The Yorkshireman, Harry Brook reached his century in Christchurch in just 123 balls, sealing it with a boundary off Tim Southee. His brilliant innings of 171 was the centerpiece of England’s formidable first-innings total of 499.
England’s rising batting sensation Harry Brook admitted that his seventh Test century during the series opener against New Zealand in Christchurch was filled with fortune. New Zealand granted Harry Brook five lifelines, and the 25-year-old made the most of them. He played a commanding knock of 171, propelling England to a formidable total of 499.
Harry Brook rise to ranks in English cricket
Harry Brook’s continued success against New Zealand is evident in his record: two centuries and two fifties in five innings. His only failure came with a duck in the fourth innings of the memorable 2023 Wellington Test. Sir Alastair Cook feels Harry Brook can challenge Joe Root’s England records; Harry Brook has seven tons in 22 Tests and averages over 60.
You know a player is a good when they are tipped to potentially snatch Joe Root’s England records.
That comment was not a throwaway line but said by Sir Alastair Cook – the man Root recently eclipsed as his country’s highest Test run-getter – as he analyzed Harry Brook’s startling success across his first 22 Tests: 2,102 runs, average of 60.05, seven hundreds. Root (12,777 runs and 35 hundreds) is nowhere near done and could post numbers that stand the test of time, while Harry Brook is only getting started and may eventually plateau. If he doesn’t, any England record looks in danger of being grabbed by this extraordinary talent.
Harry Brook is already racking up quite the statistics. Second-fastest Englishman to 2,000 Test runs – doing so in 36 innings compared to Root’s 43 – and second-best average of any England player from 20 Tests or more. The only man to better him on both lists is fellow Yorkshireman Herbert Sutcliffe.
Perhaps he will even challenge Len Hutton’s record 364 – he has already got 317 after all, in Pakistan in October – and you certainly wouldn’t put it past him trumping Gilbert Jessop’s record 76-ball England Test ton, which was set against Australia in 1902. Harry Brook’s latest Test century, against New Zealand in Christchurch, came from a more sedate, but definitely not slow, 123 balls and included him being dropped three times, firstly on 18.
He was then shelled twice more, on 106 and 147, before being dismissed for 171 as his average in away Test matches rose to 89.40. Only the great Don Bradman (102.84) averages higher in overseas Tests in the history of the game. Harry Brook’s dazzling numbers may drift at some point, bowlers may find some element of weakness, but Cook feels the 25-year-old has the technique and temperament to maintain his form.
Sir Geoffrey Boycott, former England star has hailed Harry Brook for his magnificent knock of 171 in the first Test against New Zealand in Christchurch. Boycott said that Harry Brook is one of those rare players who can hold the attention of the audience and leave them spellbound.
Sir Geoffrey Boycott in awe of Harry Brook after his 171 in NZ vs ENG 2024 1st Test
Former England opening batter Sir Geoffrey Boycott heaped praise on Harry Brook for his innings of 171 in the opening Test against New Zealand in Christchurch. Boycott opined that Brook comes off as the batter who can put viewers on a standstill.
The Yorkshire batter reached the three-figure mark in Christchurch off only 123 deliveries and got to his seventh ton with a boundary off Tim Southee. The youngster’s 171 was the nucleus in England’s first-innings total of 499.
Writing in his column for The Telegraph, here’s what the 84-year-old stated:
“When Harry Brook decides to tee off, everybody watches. He has charm and charisma that empties bars and stops people going to the toilet. Harry Brook can succeed against the two best teams in world cricket, India and Australia, as long as he picks his moments and does not let ego get the better of common sense.”
Boycott also urged the need for the 25-year-old to give respect to world-class bowlers especially with the new ball, explaining:
“If high-quality fast bowlers such as Jasprit Bumrah, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins have a new ball, then give them respect and play sensibly. With runs behind his name and when the ball is a bit older, if Harry goes into overdrive there is more chance of him winning the duel.”
Aside from Brook, Ben Stokes, Brydon Carse and Gus Atkinson starred with the bat. Carse took six wickets in New Zealand’s innings as England followed it up by chasing down 104 with eight wickets to spare.
Sir Geoffrey Boycott on Ben Stokes’ 80 runs vs NZ in 1st Test
Reflecting on Stokes’ knock of 80, the veteran praised the visiting captain’s character, stating:
“Ben Stokes scored important runs. It was not an aesthetic innings or one he will particularly remember, because he didn’t play with his best timing. He tried and succeeded in upsetting the bowlers by running down the pitch, attempting slogs, mistiming them but somehow kept getting runs. It takes a lot of character and guts to make runs when you are not playing well.”
England and New Zealand will resume their battle in the second Test in Wellington, starting on December 6.