England have kissed a good few frogs over the years but on a Wellington pitch that started out green as Kermit himself came the latest evidence that, in Harry Brook, they have found a new middle order prince.
Not that the crown is slipping from the existing one. After recently questioning his role amid England’s aggressive resurgence, Joe Root found the answer that seemed obvious to all on the opening day of this second Test against New Zealand, patiently reaching his 29th century from 182 balls moments before rain brought stumps.
But as Root painted his latest masterpiece at one end, picking off seven fours, pinching ones and twos in wing-heeled fashion, and only bringing out the reverse scoop party trick towards the end, Brook’s remarkable introduction to the highest level continued at the other in a blaze of 24 fours and five jaw-dropping sixes.
The 23-year-old had walked out to the middle early with England a perilous 21 for three, Matt Henry and Tim Southee having got the red Kookaburra ball to zip off a baize surface at the Basin Reserve.