Cricket Brook wants England to go 'bit harder' despite defeat

HARRY Brook wants England to take a leaf out of his book following a breathtaking century from the Yorkshireman in their four-wicket defeat by New Zealand in Mount Maunganui.

- David CHARLESWORTH

England were reeling on 5-3 in the first of three ODIs when Brook strode to the crease in favourable seam bowling conditions and their position worsened as they lurched to 33-5.

Brook was the only top-seven batter to reach double figures and he rescued them from total ignominy with 135 off 101 balls, accounting for 60.54 per cent of his side's 223 - a record for England in ODIs.

While his innings augurs well with less than four weeks until the start of the Ashes, Brook's Test teammates Jamie Smith, Ben Duckett and Joe Root could not get going in their first knocks of the tour.

Brook, though, feels his top-order teammates could have done more to offset opening bowlers Matt Henry and Zak Foulkes, who shared the first six wickets that were instrumental in teeing up a Black Caps win.