‘Absolutely shocking’: England’s Joe Root torched for all-time ‘BBQ’ in Test thriller

England’s Joe Root played out of his skin in a Test match thriller against New Zealand but one brain fade might have cost his team victory.

Brendon McCullum has promised England will keep faith with their attacking game during the Ashes despite Tuesday’s extraordinary one-run loss to New Zealand in Wellington.

The hosts levelled a two-match series by becoming just the fourth side in 146 years of Test cricket to win after following-on.

The contest will go down as an all-time classic, with England asking New Zealand to follow on 226 runs behind, only to struggle in pursuit of a target of 258.

Watch Australia’s Tour of India. Every Test & ODI live & ad-break free during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

Even so, England might still have won had not the in-form Harry Brook, fresh from his brilliant first-innings 186, been run out without facing a ball — a freak dismissal the 24-year-old is unlikely to suffer again in his career.

Joe Root called for a quick single after nudging the ball into the gully region but Brook clearly didn’t think the run was there and was left well short of his ground by the time New Zealand’s wicketkeeper Tom Blundell whipped off the bails.

Joe Root runs out Harry Brook with a classic BBQ. Photo: Twitter

Harry Brook had no hope at all. Photo: Twitter.

Root brought up his 29th Test century in the first innings but fans labelled Brook’s run-out an all-time barbecue by the former England skipper.

OH MY WORD. WHAT IS GOING ON.

Harry Brook is run out without facing a ball...

England in real strife 😬#NZvENGpic.twitter.com/g3kC3ss4zA

— Cricket on BT Sport (@btsportcricket) February 27, 2023

That is one of the best BBQs from Joe Root you will ever see. #NZvENG

— Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) February 27, 2023

Assume Joe Root just didn’t want Harry Brook to steal his limelight (again), so decided to run him out instead?

— Amos Murphy (@AmosMurphy_) February 27, 2023

Absolutely shocking running from Harry Brook, village cricket. Brook should have screamed NO, immediately. His call as ball is behind square, surely? Root no doubt will get the blame..

Not what we needed in a run chase. What on earth is happening!? #NZVEng

— Jack Mendel (@Mendelpol) February 27, 2023

Nevertheless, matches such as this are rare and given England’s approach, a loss was always likely to be as spectacular as many of their recent wins.

“I just think everyone is appreciating this for what it is,” said Stokes. “

That doesn’t mean for a second we’re not fussed about winning or losing. “We love winning, but if it doesn’t work out that way, we’ll hold our hands up and say the opposition were better than us.”

England, despite being denied a seventh successive victory, have won 10 out of 12 Tests since captain Ben Stokes and coach McCullum, himself a former New Zealand skipper, joined forces last year following a woeful run of one win in 17 matches at this level.

McCullum, while disliking the ‘Bazball’ reference to his nickname, was adamant there would be no let-up in England’s aggressive approach during a five-match series at home to arch rivals Australia.

“We’ll try to play the cricket that we want,” McCullum told the BBC.

“If winning is the outcome at the end, fantastic. We’re going into it with a squad that believes in one another and has a style of play which we will uphold throughout.

“If Australia are too good for us, then so be it. If they’re not, we’ll have the urn,” he added.

New Zealand won all-time thriller. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

Steve Harmison, commentating for Talksport radio, insisted England’s mindset was good for Test cricket as a whole given fears that fans worldwide are losing interest in the five-day game.

The former England fast bowler said: “New Zealand may have won this Test match, but I think cricket was a winner, close second.”

There was even approval of England’s new approach from across the fence.

“It’s great for Test cricket the way England are playing, and it’s good for Test cricket going forward,” said New Zealand’s winning captain Tim Southee after the game.

But given how quickly Stokes’ men score their runs — their first innings total of 435-8 declared was compiled in fewer than 88 overs — they could have batted again after dismissing New Zealand for 209 without compromising their beliefs.

That way England would have likely made the game safe and still given their bowlers time to take 10 second-innings wickets.

By enforcing the follow-on they provided New Zealand with their only way, however slim, back into the match.

As it was, a partnership of 121 between first-innings century-maker Joe Root and Stokes almost saw England to victory.