My dad’s highest score is 210 and that’s in the back of my mind at the minute: Harry Brook

Harry Brook. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

England’s Harry Brook has become one of the most sought-after talents in the world despite being in the nascent stages of his career. The young batting sensation was at the heart of a remarkable comeback by England on the opening day of the second Test against New Zealand. Brook is well on course for his maiden double-hundred and is eyeing his father’s highest score of 210 in club cricket.

The English side, who steamrolled the Kiwis in the first Test, were in a spot of bother after the home side reduced the Three Lions to 21/3 in the morning session. The hosts were looking to take advantage of the movement on offer for the seam bowlers, but Harry Brook and Joe Root stood tall for the visitors.

Talking about his scintillating innings, the 24-year-old reckoned it was his best so far, given the situation of the match. Even though he acknowledged his prolific run in the Test series against Pakistan, Brook felt that scoring on a tough batting wicket was more satisfactory to him than the centuries on Pakistan’s flat surfaces.

“Yes, that’s definitely the best innings yet. The position of the game makes that decision. We lost three early wickets, which weren’t ideal, but I came out and tried to counter-punch and be as positive as I could be and thankfully it came off.

“The centuries in Pakistan were amazing and good fun, but they were all very flat pitches. Today wasn’t a flat pitch. It’s a good cricket wicket, but not a flat pitch where you can smack it everywhere. I’ve done that a little bit, but it’s a pretty good pitch,” Brook was quoted saying by the Cricketer.

I need to face the first ball tomorrow, which is the main thing: Brook

On the subject of eclipsing head coach Brendon McCullum’s highest Test score at the venue, Brook said that he wasn’t thinking that far ahead and has set his sights on his father’s highest score in club cricket while playing for Burley. The youngster is just 16 runs away from registering a mind-boggling maiden double-century.

“No, I hadn’t thought about that at all. My dad’s [David] highest score is 210 [for Burley, in club cricket] and my highest score is 194 so that’s in the back of my mind at the minute. But I need to face the first ball tomorrow, which is the main thing,” he added.

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