Brook’s Blazing 135 Turns England’s Collapse into One-Man Show

News Desk

Mount Maunganui: A fierce westerly wind swept across the Bay Oval on Sunday afternoon as England’s top order was blown away in dramatic fashion during the opening match of their New Zealand tour — a contest described as the unofficial start to the Ashes “phoney war.”

England’s much-hyped batting lineup — Jamie Smith, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, and Jacob Bethell — endured a nightmare start, collapsing to 10 for 4 in just 5.1 overs. Their dismissals sparked mocking laughter across the Tasman, as the tourists’ preparations for the upcoming Ashes began in disastrous fashion.

Captain Jos Buttler soon followed at 33 for 5, and when Sam Curran edged behind at 56 for 6 — becoming the fourth victim of Zak Foulkes’ extraordinary maiden ODI spell — England’s innings appeared destined for humiliation.

Yet amid the chaos, Harry Brook produced a counterattacking masterclass. Refusing to surrender to the conditions or the scoreboard, the England white-ball captain smashed a breathtaking 135 from 101 balls, rescuing his side to a semi-respectable total of 223 in 35.2 overs.

Brook’s innings, featuring nine fours and 11 sixes, was remarkable for its audacity. His first 36 runs all came in boundaries, and he reached his century from 82 balls, taking three consecutive sixes off Jacob Duffy. It was his fourth century on New Zealand soil — and arguably his finest, surpassing even his memorable 186 at Wellington in 2023.

Only Jamie Overton offered meaningful support, contributing 46 off 54 balls in a seventh-wicket partnership of 87 with Brook. The stand briefly steadied England after the new-ball onslaught by Foulkes and Matt Henry, who bowled 15 overs unchanged to devastating effect.

Overton’s innings echoed his Test debut against New Zealand in 2022, when he rescued England from another 55-for-6 collapse alongside Jonny Bairstow. This time, however, he fell just short of a fifty, chipping a slower ball to cover. Soon after, Brydon Carse departed first ball, cutting straight to Kane Williamson, ending England’s resistance.

The early damage had been done long before Brook’s heroics. Henry struck with the opening delivery of the match, bowling Jamie Smith with a perfect inducker reminiscent of Rory Burns’ first-ball dismissal in the 2021-22 Ashes. Foulkes then dismantled England’s top order, removing Duckett, Root, and Bethell in quick succession with sharp seam movement and impeccable line.

Brook’s commanding 135 accounted for over 60% of England’s total, surpassing Robin Smith’s 167* against Australia in 1993 in terms of innings share. Yet, as that historical parallel reminds, even an individual masterpiece may not be enough to prevent defeat.

Despite Brook’s brilliance, England’s collapse will raise serious questions about their top order’s readiness for the Ashes — and provide Australia with plenty of early encouragement from across the Tasman.