Harry Brook saves timid batting display with touch of vintage Bazball

By stumps, England’s total of 140 on a slow, nibbly surface had been put into some context.

But, in the first outing of a new era for a team who once had such a clear identity, England had produced a timid batting display, with a number of players caught between stools. In the face of relentless right-arm seam, delivered from a great height, they looked unsure of whether to attack or defend, or even to play or leave. It was the sort of performance that, four years ago, would have prompted Brendon McCullum to say, to the dismay of England fans, we should have gone harder.

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The exception, in terms of approach and style, was Harry Brook. Until Glenn Phillips’s sunset counter-attack, Brook was the only batsman to play with genuine intent, and the only batsman to reach 20. It was classic Brook and, dare we say, vintage Bazball. Danger? Run towards it.

Brook came to the crease with England collapsing after a long, lunchtime delay. Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell had gone quickly, and Joe Root feathered behind. In that period, Brook had been given plenty of early warnings: a short ball from Will O’Rourke first up, then an lbw review after Nathan Smith jagged one back into his pad. An inside edge saved him.

Brook’s response, inevitably, was to attack anything remotely full, which was driven through point, or short, which was pulled disdainfully. He used his feet to unsettle the New Zealand quicks, who rarely missed.

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Brook enjoyed two major slices of fortune. On eight, he was dropped at backward point off O’Rourke. Undeterred, he responded by playing more shots. On 45, by which point he was batting with the tail, Rachin Ravindra shelled a simple chance at deep square-leg off Kyle Jamieson. He did not enjoy the same fortune when dismissed, with Jamieson taking a simple catch at long leg. That was the correct idea to a filthy ball, just poor execution. It should have been sent into the Grandstand. He had made 56, one more than his Test average, a reminder that he is a player of rare class.

“That’s his way, isn’t it?” Jamieson said. “Credit to him, he was brave, courageous, took the game on. He gave a couple of chances, but so far he’s probably the difference in the game with the bat. It’s something we will have to take a look at, how we find our own form of bravery.”

Granted, New Zealand have a very handy attack – and the overhead bowling conditions were perfect – but several England batsmen still played a major part in their own downfall. Here, Telegraph Sport runs the rule over the guilty (and innocent) men:

Emilio Gay c Mitchell b Jamieson 8

Gay hit two lovely drives, but was also squared up a couple of times in his debut innings. Kyle Jamieson finally found his radar, and this was a beautiful ball from round the wicket, nipping up the slope. After kissing the edge, it was a straightforward catch at first slip for Daryl Mitchell.

Verdict: Not guilty

Ben Duckett lbw b Smith 19

Soon after the two-hour break, Duckett got in a tangle to a full Nathan Smith delivery that jagged back sharply. A victory for the bowler, and at least Duckett had the self-awareness not to take a review with him.

Verdict: Not guilty

Jacob Bethell lbw b O’Rourke 6

In the following over Bethell, who had looked so sensible early in his innings, drove too hard at a fine ball from Will O’Rourke and was plumb in front. Good bowling again, but has to go down as an error from Bethell in his first red-ball innings since January 8.

Verdict: Guilty

Joe Root c Blundell b O’Rourke 1

With regret, Root is guilty, too. This was the kind of dismissal we have become accustomed to in Australia, just fiddling at a ball that could have been left on both line and length. Very fine bowling again from the menacing O’Rourke, but Root should have been wise to the threat.

Verdict: Guilty

Jamie Smith b Jamieson 1

Smith thought he could leave Jamieson on length, because he is so tall, and, because the ball was outside his off stump, he thought it would peel off down the slope. It was a fatal misjudgment. The bounce had been low all day, and the ball nipped back. Given his winter and the trust placed in him, this was a bit of a shocker for Smith.

Verdict: Guilty

Ben Stokes c Williamson b Jamieson 12

Stokes’s batting is not what it was but, given how little cricket he has played this year, he was shaping up well early in his innings. He and Brook had put on 39, and a restless Lord’s had settled. Then, from nowhere, he got a good ball from round the wicket, and Kane Williamson took a blinder diving to his right at third slip. Stokes did not do much wrong.

Verdict: Not guilty

Gus Atkinson lbw b Jamieson 4

Full, and seamed plenty. Atkinson was completely beaten by a lovely piece of bowling.

Verdict: Not guilty

Harry Brook c Jamieson b Smith 56

Brook had been watchful at first, but launched a calculated counter-attack. He played some gorgeous shots, but enjoyed some luck too, with two simple catches going down. Eventually, fortune ran out. He got a poor ball from Smith, and picked out long leg, the only man in the deep.

Verdict: Guilty

Ollie Robinson c Blundell b Jamieson 1

Jamieson jagged another back here, and benefited from a bit of low bounce. This kissed the under-edge of Robinson’s bat, and only Tom Blundell seemed to realise he had hit it.

Verdict: Not guilty

Shoaib Bashir c Williamson b Smith 14

By becoming one of just five Englishmen to make double figures, the blameless bunny Bashir exceeded all expectations. Smith forced a thick edge and was easily taken at third slip.

Verdict: Not guilty

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