Harry Brook has emerged as a consistent performer for England in the past year.
The right-hander continued his terrific run with a brilliant century on Day 1 of the second Test against New Zealand.
England, 1-0 up in the two-match series, lost three wickets in the space of 40 balls on a green Basin Reserve pitch in Wellington.
However, Brook combined with fellow centurion Joe Root to put the tourists on top.
Brook, who was bought by Sunrisers Hyderbad for Rs 13.25 crore, was unbeaten on 184 off 169 deliveries.
Thanks to this innings, the England youngster became the first batsman in history to score 800 runs after just 9 Test innings.
Previously, the record for most runs after 9 Test innings belonged to India’s Vinod Kambli (798) but Brook took his tally to 807 on Friday.
He also surpassed legends like Herbert Sutcliffe (780 runs in nine innings), Sunil Gavaskar (778 runs in nine innings) and Everton Weekes (777 runs in nine innings).
Joe Root was unbeaten on a classy 101 as the tourists smashed their way to 315-3 before rain ended the opening day of the series decider early.
When Brook came to the crease, England was wobbling at 21-3 inside the first seven overs.
New Zealand quickly dismissed England’s top order of Zak Crawley (two), Ben Duckett (nine) and Ollie Pope (10).
Matt Henry and skipper Tim Southee did the early damage for the hosts under expectedly blue skies.
The dismissal of Duckett, thanks to Bracewell’s diving catch gave Southee a 700th international wicket in all formats, becoming the first New Zealander to reach the milestone.
However, Brook soon took over and raced to his 4th Test century.
His 184 came off 169 balls laced with 24 fours and five sixes.
Harry Brook had come into the Test setup as a replacement for Jonny Bairstow for South Africa Tests in 2022.
Despite this, the batter in a short span has become an inseparable part of the team.
ECB will have to carefully monitor Harry Brook’s workload as after New Zealand Test, the batter will have a gruelling IPL 2023 season.
In the midst of all this good news, former England opener Boycott has sounded a note of warning.
He reckons Australia will revert to short-pitched bowling in an attempt to disturb the 24-year-old in this summer’s Ashes series.
“I feel this summer the Australians will challenge him with the short ball.”, said Boycott.
“‘He instinctively hooks up and with the extra pace and quality in their seamers hooking up can be a “getting out” shot. If he can hit it for six every time then great, don’t change, but that is expecting a lot.”
“He got out hooking in his first Test match at the Oval, to South Africa’s Marco Jansen caught at fine leg and Jansen is only lively fast medium.”
“In the first innings against New Zealand he played on hooking Neil Wagner, who has no great pace any more. Pat Cummings and Mitchell Starc are faster and even Josh Hazlewood gets awkward bounce.”
“The England coaches should be taking him to one side and pointing this out so that he has time to slightly adjust, making the hook shot less precarious.”
That’s priceless advice Brook should note of.
