New Zealand v England 2022/23

Watch: ‘What on earth is going on?’ – Harry Brook run out without facing on disastrous morning for England

by Wisden Staff February 27, 2023 - 10:49pm 2 minute read

Watch: Harry Brook was run out without facing early on day five, called through for a risky single by Joe Root and left stranded after a sharp piece of fielding from Michael Bracewell.

The dismissal left England 80-5, still 178 runs short of victory and in a perilous position.

The final day began with the game unexpectedly in the balance, New Zealand having staged a comeback after being asked to follow on before collapsing to leave England needing 258 to win. They lost Zak Crawley late on the fourth evening, and Ollie Robinson, Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope departed on the next morning to leave England needing a recovery.

They were in a similar position in the first innings, 21-3 after being invited to bat by Tim Southee, and it was Brook and Root who hit back, each passing 150 as England crossed 400. There could hardly have been more contrast between their two partnerships in the game, with the second disastrous.

Root was seemingly the culpable figure, dabbing Southee behind square on the off-side and setting off. Brook responded, but Bracewell – culpable in a run out of his own yesterday – pounced, picking up the ball one-handed and throwing the ball in to wicketkeeper Tom Blundell. Brook was barely in the frame.