Harry Brook was absolutely clicking on fire for England with the bat on Friday(November 29) when the action of the second day of play in the ongoing first Test of New Zealand-England three-match series was staged. The right-handed batter came out to bat at No. 5 for the Ben Stokes-led side in the match at Hagley Oval in Christchurch and was batting on 132 runs as the different teams played late into the day’s action. Thus far, in nearly 163 balls he has faced in the crease, this 25-year-old batter, who made his Test debut in 2022, has hammered 10 fours and 2 sixes.
Crossing the 69-run mark on Friday during England’s first innings, Brook reached the milestone of 2000 runs in Test cricket, thus tying a record that is nearly 96 years old. Brook had the honour of becoming the joint fastest England batter to reach 2000 runs in Test cricket. He did so in his 22nd Test.
Fastest to 2000 runs for England in Tests (by match)
Herbert Sutcliffe – 22
Harry Brook – 22
Kevin Pietersen – 22
Denis Compton – 23
Wally Hammond – 23
Jack Hobbs – 23
Jonathan Trott – 24
Joe Root – 24
Ken Barrington – 25
Leonard Hutton – 25
Andrew Strauss – 25
2000 Test runs from Herbert Sutcliffe, who played 54 Tests for England in his time, scored 4555 runs. The 2000 Test runs were also compiled by Sutclifffe in 22 matches, and he achieved this feat in a match against the West Indies in July 1928 at Manchester.
Kevin Pietersen, a past skipper, also reached the 2000 run milestone in 22 Tests for the team of England; in terms of innings, however, Pietersen remains in the third position. Sutcliffe was required to cross 2000 with 33 innings, whereas Brook is in his 36th Test innings for Poms at this moment. Pietersen took 41 innings to accomplish the mark.
Fastest to 2000 Test runs for England (by innings)
Herbert Sutcliffe – 33
Harry Brook – 36
Denis Compton – 37
Wally Hammond – 39
Jonathan Trott – 40
Sir Donald Bradman, the legendary Australian batter, holds the overall record for reaching 2000 Test runs. The right-handed batter crossed the 2000-run mark in just his 15th Test match. In terms of innings as well, Bradman tops the tally. He completed 2000 Test runs in the 22nd inning.
The ex-West Indian cricketer George Headley is second in line with the number of Tests – 17 Tests (32 innings) – after him are the Australian brothers Michael Hussey and Marnus Labuschagne (20 Tests each). West Indies batter Vivian Richards, along with South African Graeme Pollock, amassed his 2000 Test runs in just 21 matches.
The one who created this record for India is none other than Sunil Gavaskar, who made the fastest 2000 runs in Test cricket in a mere 23 Tests. In terms of innings, this record is jointly held by Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag who achieved the milestone in their 40th innings.
