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NZ vs ENG, 2nd Test: Brook, Root Slam Tons To Keep New Zealand At Bay

image-lei36hkvHarry Brook smashed another hundred [Source: Twitter]

Riding on sensational hundreds from Harry Brook and Joe Root, England set the tone for a gigantic first innings total on day 1 of the second Test against New Zealand in Wellington. 

Before rain played spoilsport, the visitors dominated the host bowlers for another time in the series, posting 315 runs at stumps. 


How the battle panned out? 

After being put into bat, England got off to a disastrous start, as Matt Henry and Tim Southee quickly dismantled their top order, dismissing Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope within the first seven overs. 

However, the happiness had a brief stay in the BlackCaps camp, as the in-form Harry Brook and legendary Joe Root prevented them from getting any further success in the remainder of the day. 

Continuing his purple patch, Brook hammered a belligerent 169-ball 184* with the help of 24 fours and five sixes. 

Meanwhile, Root seemed to back in normalcy, as he restricted himself from attempting expansive shots and adopted an orthodox approach to score a stylish 182-ball 101*, including seven gorgeous boundaries. 

The valiant efforts of these two batters put the Englishmen on the driving seat, powering them to 315 for three at stumps on day 1. 


Talking points

  • Harry Brook has completely replaced Jonny Bairstow as the poster-boy of England's new ultra-aggressive approach. So, it will be interesting to see who England drop when Bairstow makes his international comeback. 
  • The best out of Joe Root can be extracted only if he takes time and plays his natural game. It's good to see that England have finally understood it and we might see the aggressive batters playing around Root in the upcoming matches. 
  • For a change, this time England’s onslaught has come on a green wicket. So, it’s a befitting reply to those who doubt their batters’ ability to succeed in challenging conditions with an aggressive approach. 


Expectations from the second day

If rain continues for a long time, the pitch will have some moisture, which in turn will keep the Kiwi seamers in the game. 

So, it will be important for New Zealand to capitalise on the moisture and run through the English lineup on Saturday morning. 

But, if this duo survives the morning session, the visitors will post a mammoth first innings total on the board. 


Brief Scores

England 1st innings: 315/3 (65)
Harry Brook 184* (169), Joe Root 101* (182);
Matt Henry 2/64, Tim Southee 1/48