Geoffrey Boycott has hailed Harry Brook following the record-breaking start to his Test career but warned England’s new batting sensation to expect a barrage of short bowling from Australia during the Ashes.
Brook scored his fourth century from nine Test innings to help England recover from 21-3 to reach 315-3 on day one of the second Test against New Zealand.
Brook finished the day on 184 not out from 169 balls and has now scored more runs after nine innings than any player in the history of Test cricket.
The Yorkshireman found support from ex-England captain Root, who made his first century in eight Tests and 29th overall in a partnership worth 294.
Former England opener Boycott says Brook has been a revelation since making his international debut last summer and reckons Australia will revert to short-pitched bowling in an attempt to disturb the 24-year-old in this summer’s Ashes series.
‘I feel this summer the Australians will challenge him with the short ball,’ Boycott told the Daily Telegraph. ‘He instinctively hooks up and with the extra pace and quality in their seamers hooking up can be a “getting out” shot.
‘If he can hit it for six every time then great, don’t change, but that is expecting a lot.
‘He got out hooking in his first Test match at the Oval, to South Africa’s Marco Jansen caught at fine leg and Jansen is only lively fast medium.
‘In the first innings against New Zealand he played on hooking Neil Wagner, who has no great pace any more.
‘Pat Cummings and Mitchell Starc are faster and even Josh Hazlewood gets awkward bounce.
‘The England coaches should be taking him to one side and pointing this out so that he has time to slightly adjust, making the hook shot less precarious.’
On Brook’s fledging Test career, Boycott added: ‘This kid has consistently made big scores with his own brand of quick scoring tempo.
‘Normal strokes, inventive strokes, made up strokes; it all seems natural for him. It is remarkable and exciting to watch. Long may it continue.’
Brook, meanwhile, heaped praise on ‘unbelievable’ Root after the pair dragged England from a spot of bother to a position of strength as they seek a seventh successive Test win under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum.
‘There was a little bit in the pitch early on so we were just trying to negate that movement really,’ Brook said.
‘He’s unbelievable to bat with, I’ve played plenty of games with him now and I enjoy every game.
‘I think we were a perfect partnership there. He obviously struggled a little bit at the start and couldn’t quite middle anything but then as he got into it later into his innings, he was the Joe Root everyone knows and loves.’
MORE : Australia captain Pat Cummins to miss third India Test to be with ill mother
MORE : Ben Foakes won’t waste time fretting over Jonny Bairstow’s England return
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Stay connected with us on social media platform for instant update click here to join our Twitter, & Facebook
We are now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@TechiUpdate) and stay updated with the latest Technology headlines.
For all the latest Cricket News Click Here
