With the series win in New Zealand, England is all set to enter the 3rd match with a motive to whitewash the hosts. England secured a 323-run victory in the second Test in Wellington, with Harry Brook playing a pivotal role. Brook scored a brilliant 123 in the first innings, followed by a half-century in the second.
His outstanding performances earned him high praise from teammates, including Joe Root, who labeled him “by far and away the best player in the world” on his current form. Brook now boasts an impressive Test average of 61.62, with 2,280 runs in 23 matches, a remarkable feat for such a young player. Root also lauded Brook’s versatile batting, noting his ability to handle pressure and attack both seam and spin. He said:
He can whack you over your head for six. He can scoop you over his head for six. He can smack spin. He can smack seam. Brookie is by far and away the best player in the world at the minute.
Captain Ben Stokes, along with former players like Phil Tufnell and Sir Alastair Cook, praised Brook for his genius and ability to play shots that make him difficult to bowl out. Despite an ankle injury, Brook is expected to be fit for the final Test in Hamilton.