Harry Brooke and Joe Root keep England on track after early wickets

Zach Crowley Endured another cheap layoff before Harry Brooke’s run-a-ball half-century put England Back on track in the decisive second test against New Zealand in Wellington.

Crawley’s low-scoring streak continued after the tourists were pumped onto the green pitch at Basin Reserve, where they were dismissed for 2–2 by a returning Matt Henry as England were down 3–21.

Yorkshire Duo Joe Root and Brooke stabilized the ship, reaching 101 on 3 at lunchtime, the latter hitting 4 of 10 en route to a momentum-changing 51 knots out. Root played a more consistent support his knock and at the break he scored 23 nos.

England captain Ben Stokes admitted that bowlers were “licking their lips” after seeing the grass covering the ground. Tim Southey I chose to throw the ball first in the toss.

This gave Crowley a spotlight, but failed to elicit a convincing response to the question mark that followed him. I got off to a good start on my return to and hooked my right-handed edge to try and hold the line at the length I was looking for. Crowley, whose Test average is now below 28, lingered for some time before being sent halfway by the referee.

Henry doubled down on a strong start by picking up Olly Pope with another great delivery, attacking the off stumps and taking a thick edge that flew to Michael Bracewell in the third slip. It was a chance, taken safely, but paled in comparison to the next attempt from Southey – a one-handed body throw back and forth to pull the ball out of the air.

England were now rocking, but in Root and Brooke they found a partnership to rebuild. , and slammed Daryl Mitchell and Neil Wagner to the ground with powerful ball shots.

Root batted a yard away from the crease to smother the moving ball, surviving an lbw introduction from DRS’ first delivery but settling nicely into a controlled knock.