Brook swats five sixes in an over as England make powerful start

IT NEVER stops. Another day, another England demolition job, as the touring side piled on 465 in 69 overs against a New Zealand XI.

- Cameron Ponsonby

Harry Brook top-scored with 97 off 71 balls, while there were half-centuries for Dan Lawrence (85 off 55), Joe Root (77 off 69) and Ben Foakes (57 off 74), as England cantered their way through the first half of the day before galloping their way through the second.

It has been a low-key start to proceedings in New Zealand, with England initially scheduled to play two two-day warm-up matches — one with a pink ball and one with a red — as they prepare for a day-night Test in Mount Maunganui, before a traditional daytime fixture in Wellington.

The second of those warm-up games has been cancelled, however, with England deeming the one match, combined with a three-day training camp and four-day golf trip in Queenstown that preceded it, to be ample preparation.

As a result, this encounter at Seddon Park is not so much a competitive fixture as a trading of favours. You bowl at us for a day, and then we will bowl at you. Captain Ben Stokes, considering himself to be in a good place, opted not to take the field (just as he did for the warm-up before Pakistan), with Ollie Pope taking the reins.