For all the lingering questions about England’s Bazballing approach to batting, the Brook-Pope stand was a counter-punch when it was needed most. They rattled along at nearly five an over.
There was fortune, even without the missed chances. Pope needed to time to settle, both men slashed through and over the slips. Brook’s let-offs came on 18, 41, 70 and 106.
If Phillips, at gully off the bowling of debutant Nathan Smith, held Brook’s first offering, England would have been 77-5. The next two drops, Latham at slip off Smith and Devon Conway at deep mid-wicket off 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 runs at number six will only increase the questions over whether he should be England’s number three.
Given his fluctuating year and the lives gifted to Brook, Pope must have been cursing his luck that he was the victim of Phillips’ gravity-defying brilliance. Even Brook gave him a consoling pat on the way off.
Brook, who had already pulled two sixes, scooped Southee for four then cut the same bowler to go to his seventh Test ton. Then came the final miss, a flick down the leg side off Will O’Rourke was parried by keeper Tom Blundell. Leg-byes were given, but a review would have confirmed bat.
