Harry Brook acknowledged that he had been fortunate, with his 171-run blitz in the first Test against New Zealand benefiting from five dropped catches. England's No. 5 batsman was unsure if he had ever experienced five drops in his entire Test career, let alone in a single innings. However, Brook's aggressive batting style also played a role in the missed opportunities, particularly on 18, 41, 70, 106 on day two, and 147 on the third morning. Glenn Phillips, one of the world's top fielders, twice failed to hold onto catches in the gully.
"I had a lot of luck, didn't I? Jesus," Brook said, reflecting on England's 151-run lead in the first innings, which left New Zealand struggling at 155 for six by the end of day three. "I had plenty of jam on my toast in the morning – it was a bit jammy – but I was happy to make the most of it."
Brook even apologized to Ollie Pope after Phillips held a one-handed stunner to dismiss him on 77, only to drop him again the next morning. "Catches win matches and we've taken a few," Brook noted, emphasizing a key difference in the match. Despite his young career, Brook continues to impress with six Test centuries away from home and seven overall, making him the second-fastest Englishman to reach 2,000 Test runs in 36 innings.
Brook's success in New Zealand, where he averages 100 across five innings, is attributed to the pitches offering pace and bounce. "I've tried to use the pace, ride the bounce … and had quite a bit of luck this week," he said. Brook also praised Chris Woakes, whose overseas record contrasts with his home performances but excelled with three crucial wickets, including back-to-back dismissals of Kane Williamson and Tom Blundell.
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