England have kissed a fair few frogs over the years but on a typical Wellington pitch that started out as green as Kermit himself came the latest evidence that, in Harry Brook, they have discovered a new middle-order prince.
Not that the crown is slipping from the existing one. Joe Root questioned his role recently amid England’s aggressive resurgence and on the opening day of the second Test against New Zealand, came the answer that seemed obvious to all but him: just be Joe Root. He built his 29th Test century by getting his head down and simply batting, the milestone coming from 182 balls and seconds before rain brought stumps.
