Harry Brook and Ben Duckett sparkle as England make more history vs New Zealand

16 February 2023 , 08:32

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Ben Duckett smashed the fastest fifty by an England opener (Image: MARTY MELVILLE/AFP via Getty Images)

Ben Duckett and Harry Brook starred on day one with rapid 80s as England raced to 325-9 after being put in to bat by New Zealand in Mount Maunganui.

Having been England's two leading run scorers in the historic 3-0 series win over Pakistan in December, Duckett and Brook promptly picked up where they left off in New Zealand.

Duckett reached a fifth Test fifty off just 36 balls, the fastest by an England opener, while a remarkable 66 of Brook's 89 runs came in boundaries - 15 fours and one six. And after Ben Stokes boldly declared in the 59th over, the second-earliest declaration in Test history, James Anderson and Ollie Robinson reduced New Zealand to 37-3 at the close.

While Duckett got England's innings off to an absolute flier with a magnificent 84 off just 68 balls, fellow opener Crawley fell for a streaky four to Tim Southee in just the third over. Ollie Pope then shared a 99-run partnership with the irrepressible Duckett, who threatened to break Gilbert Jessop's 121-year-old record for England's fastest Test hundred.

However, Duckett chipped a delivery from debutant Blair Tickner straight to short cover and England proceeded to lose several cheap wickets. Pope was caught at slip off Southee for 42, Joe Root fell for 14 after failing to reverse ramp Neil Wagner and Stokes slapped Scott Kuggeleijn to midwicket for 19.

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With England 209-5 when their captain departed, they were threatening to squander the early momentum Duckett had given them. However, Brook, playing just his seventh Test innings, took charge and found the boundary regularly.

Harry Brook showed his class once again with an outstanding 89 (Philip Brown/Popperfoto/Popperfoto via Getty Images)

He added 89 runs with wicketkeeper Ben Foakes and, like Duckett, also threatened Jessop's record at one point. And when he bottom-edged Wagner into his own stumps 11 runs short of a fourth Test century, wickets fell quickly until Stokes decided to declare and give Anderson, Robinson and Stuart Broad 18 overs with the new ball under lights.

And the trio were truly excellent, causing all sorts of problems for New Zealand's top order and claiming the huge wickets of Tom Latham, Kane Williamson and Henry Nicholls. Robinson got Latham caught at short leg for one off just his third delivery, while Anderson pinned Williamson lbw for six and got Nicholls caught at slip for four.

Anderson should have also removed Devon Conway after finding his outside edge, but the opener survived after Crawley, who took the catch to dismiss Nicholls, put down a relatively simple chance at second slip. Conway and nightwatchman Wagner were able to see out the final few overs and New Zealand will begin day two trailing England by 288 runs.

Matthew Cooper