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Harry Brook helped England put on a show for New Zealand captain Tim Southee in the first of two hot days in Hamilton, smashing 97 as the runs flowed at Seddon Park.
Black Caps captain Southee arrived on a scouting mission ahead of next week’s first Test and saw the tourists amass 465 all out in just 69.2 overs against a local XI, scoring with more than one ball to spare as a brave approach. for the longest format continues to provide many thrills and spills.
Head coach Southee and England’s Kiwi, Brendon McCullum, have been teammates for years and the pair happily broke the battle lines during a long chat in the second session, joined by Ben Stokes.
There was no concern about Stokes, who preferred a lengthy nets session alongside Durham teammate Matthew Potts before playing, and the absence was another reminder of England’s relaxed approach to accepted norms.
Brook, who scored three centuries in as many Tests during the whitewash over Pakistan before Christmas, was in electric form as he lashed the bowling to all parts of Seddon Park in the first two days of warm-up action.
“I think I’ve gotten a little bit stronger and I feel like I’m hitting the ball harder,” Brook said of his exploits.
“Whether it’s just because I’ve been given the freedom to go out and play in a positive way, take the match, or whether I’ve become stronger, I just feel like I’m hitting the ball harder than I was before.
“You feel like you can go out and do almost anything in this setup, it’s really fun playing in this guy.”
Newcomer Adi Ashok suffered from England’s attacking approach, hitting five consecutive sixes after Brook blocked his first delivery.
The first maximum was not only to clear the boundary line, but also to go straight up in the ambulance, beyond the security fence and to the main road out of the ground.
Brook also showed class against a proven international player, lacing a flat pull for another six off Kyle Jamieson, the 6ft 8in Black Caps seamer who is set to feature in the Test series later this month.
The Yorkshireman’s innings ended in fitting fashion after 71 balls, aiming an uppercut at Jarrod McKay and caught on the ropes in the deep third. A few more inches in the shot and it will be six hundred and ten.
Joe Root eased to his first half-century of the trip in 45 balls
Joe Root had previously completed 77 thoroughly while Dan Lawrence, who seemed set to do the drinks in the series proper, thrashed a charming 85 and Ben Foakes added 57, took some time at the crease in the lights, but when England lost that. The 10th wicket with another 20 overs still scheduled was called an early end to the proceedings instead of unleashing the bowlers in the twilight.
Zak Crawley (17), Ben Duckett (32) and Pope (26) all failed to kick after starting.
If Southee hopes to find a weakness in England’s line-up, there is nothing to be gained from watching Brook, who can’t even see it.
“I didn’t know he was here to be honest,” he admitted.
“It will be a good insight for him to come and watch because he might not have seen some of the players. I’m sure he’ll have a plan but when it comes to the Test series, I’ll try. to fight that action as much as I can.”
England’s two-Test series against New Zealand begins on Thursday 16 February with a day-night pink-ball Test at Mount Maunganui before the second Test in Wellington, starting at 22:00 GMT on Thursday 23 February.
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