NZ vs ENG: Joe Root cannot stop praising fellow Yorkshire batter, says he's batting on a different planet

Harry Brook is making the right noise in world cricket at the moment. Having achieved so much in such a short span of time makes you believe that he’s cut for great things in life. Joe Root, his fellow Yorkshire and England batter, couldn’t stop praising the 24-year-old following his masterful knock in the first innings of the second Test in Wellington, where Harry scored a stunning 186. Root, who also returned to formhitting an unbeaten 153, said he had the best seat in the house while watching Brook bat on day one.

Rescuing England after they were reduced to three for 21 at one stage, Harry and Joe added 294 before stumps were calledon day 1. The next day started with Root hitting a few boundaries before Matt Henry dismissed Brook on a well-made 186 off 176 balls – his fourth hundred in his past six Tests.

Besides, Brook is also chasing a unique record of scoring most runs after first six Tests set by two of the former greats – Sunil Gavaskar (912) and Sir Donald George Bradman (862). For him to surpass them, Brook will have to score 104 or more runs (as he’s currently on 807) in the second innings.

Meanwhile, talking highly off Harry, Root said it looks like he’s batting on a different planet, and that a batter like him in that form makes life easier for anyone standing at the other end.

"He's (Brook) almost playing on a different planet. I felt like I had the best seat in the house yesterday. When you’re batting at the other end to Brook at the minute, he’s making your life a lot easier. It was quite nice to bounce off him and we restore that calmness in the dressing room. A partnership like that is always going to set things up nicely,” former England captain Joe Root said.

New Zealand, meanwhile, didn’t have the best of starts. Having already suffered the wrath of facing in-form James Anderson in the first Test, the hosts had their backs against the wall at the Basin Reserve also. As James Anderson and Jack Leach picked three wickets each, New Zealand were 138 for seven at stumps on day 2, trailing by 297 runs.