NZ vs ENG: Harry Brook Smashes 7th Test Century, Becomes Second Fastest to 2000 Runs in Terms of Balls Faced

England batter Harry Brook smashed his seventh Test century and also became the second quickest to reach 2000 runs in the longest format in terms of balls faced during day 2 of the 1st Test against New Zealand in Christchurch.

Brook, who has terrific record in Test cricket, carried his form into New Zealand, digging England out of a muddle at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Friday (November 29).

En route to his unbeaten 132 off 163 balls, Brook completed a milestone, finishing just behind compatriot Ben Duckett for the record for quickest to score 2000 runs in Test cricket in terms of balls faced. Brook crossed the landmark in 2300 balls, while Duckett had achieved the feat in 2293 balls.

Apart from the English pair, unlikely New Zealand player Tim Southee and Australia great Adam Gilchrist occupy the next two spots in the list for quickest to complete 2000 runs in Test cricket as per the balls faced data recorded by ESPN Cricinfo.

Fastest to 2000 runs in Test Cricket (in terms of balls faced as per Cricinfo)

2293 balls - Ben Duckett (England)
2300 balls - Harry Brook (England)
2418 balls - Tim Southee (New Zealand)
2483 balls - Adam Gilchrist (Australia)

Brook also became the joint sixth fastest to reach 2000 Test runs in terms of innings played, reaching the milestone in 36 innings. Legendary Sir Don Bradman sits on top of the list for quickest to the landmark in innings taken.

Brian Lara, Mike Hussey and Marnus Labuschagne are some of the players who have completed 2000 Test runs quicker than Brook. Here is a look at the fastest to 2000 Test runs in terms of fewer innings taken:

22 innings - Don Bradman (Australia)
32 innings - George Headley (West Indies)
33 innings - Herbert Sutcliffe (England) & Michael Hussey (Australia)
34 innings - Marnus Labuschagne (Australia)
35 innings - Brian Lara (West Indies) Doug Walters (Australia)
36 innings - Sir Vivian Richards (West Indies), Harry Brook (England), Arthur Morris (Australia), Everton Weekes (West Indies) & Frank Worrell (West Indies)

With this latest knock, Brook has now amassed 2063 runs in 36 Test innings, including 7 hundreds and 9 fifties, at an incredible average of 60.67. He registered his best Test innings earlier this year, when he smashed a triple century against Pakistan in Multan.

A consistent run-getter in the longest format, Brook has six hundreds in away tours with four coming in Pakistan and two coming in New Zealand. The 25-year-old has only toured to Pakistan and New Zealand so far for Test matches.