New Zealand vs England: Harry Brook and Ollie Pope rebuild tourists in Christchurch

For all the lingering questions about England’s Bazballing approach to batting, the Brook-Pope stand was a counter strike when it was most needed. They rattled along at nearly five overs.

There was luck, even without the wasted chances. Pope needed time to settle, both men slashing through and over the patches. Brook’s interceptions came at 18, 41, 70 and 106.

If Phillips, when debutant Nathan Smith’s bowling had held off Brook’s first offering, England would have been 77-5. The next two drops, Latham at slip off Smith and Devon Conway at deep midfield from Phillips, were borderline farcical.

Brook passed 2,000 Test runs in his 36th innings. Only the great Herbert Sutcliffe got there faster for England. Paradoxically, Pope’s run at number six will only heighten the question of whether he should be England’s number three.

Given his fluctuating years and the lives Brook has been given, Pope must have cursed his luck that he was the victim of Phillips’ gravity-defying brilliance. Even Brook gave him a comforting pat on the way.

Brook, who had already hit two sixes, scooped Southee for four and then cut the same bowler to go for his seventh Test ton. Then came the final miss, a flick down the leg for Will O’Rourke was parried by keeper Tom Blundell. Leg-byes were given, but a review would have confirmed the bat.