Second Test: New Zealand v England. March 30-April 3

[Arthur Crabtree]

NZ behind and batting last. That should be an advantage to England.

[bigfluffylemon]

Small advantage to England, but it's anybody's game really.

A target of 250 should make for an interesting chase.

[bigfluffylemon]

Only the second time in 11 away games that England have recorded a first innings lead, the other being the Melbourne test.

[bigfluffylemon]

[Arthur Crabtree]

England should be disappointed to only set 250 I think.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Wonder how many of the England team are playing their last Test here.

Plenty of candidates.

[bigfluffylemon]

Wonder how many of the England team are playing their last Test here.

Plenty of candidates.

Cook finishes a horrow-show of a tour. His place will surely be in question come the summer, unless he scores prolifically for Essex, and/or there are no alternatives from the openers' ranks in the CC.

Vince and Stoneman are surely playing for their places at least, and probably Malan too. I'd say that Bairstow is safe after his first innings knock, and Broad is probably also ok after his best bowling return since Jo'Burg 2016. Anderson, Root and Stokes are highly unlikely to be dropped - Stokes has shown quality with the bat in both tests in NZ, and Anderson and Root have been consistent performers for the whole of the last year.

Wood's stock seems to rise whenever he's out of the team because of his alleged pace, then fall again when he actually plays.

[Arthur Crabtree]

If Cook doesn't play again it'll be because he retired. But it could be.

Vince is a probable. Wood not far behind.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Fifty partnership. Where is this going.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Fifty for Vince. Pretty quick in getting there.

[bigfluffylemon]

Tea, and England's session - 106/1 scored in it. A much needed big partnership for the second wicket, the lead is 142 with 9 wickets remaining.

Vince records only his 3rd fifty in 22 innings, and second highest score. Well done to him, much needed runs for him and England, but I think he needs three figures minimum to feature in England's future plans.

Given how the initiative has gone back and forward between the two sides, I would expect NZ to come back into it in the last session. But if England are still batting by the close with any specialist batsmen remaining, they ought to be able to set NZ a challenging total.

[bigfluffylemon]

100 partnership up, and 50 for Stoneman too.

[bigfluffylemon]

Oh Vince, gives it away again. Deary me.

50s for Stoneman and Vince, but unable to go on. It's unlikely to be enough.

Interestingly, of 51 wickets to fall in the series so far, the opening pairs (Boult, Southee, Broad and Anderson) have 43. The others 8 between them. I definitely picked the wrong FL team.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Got the impression Boult and Southee were on the wane a little in Tests, but they've been prolific in this series.

[bigfluffylemon]

Lead over 230, 7 wickets in hand, two days to play, England's best position in the second innings of an away test match since Rajkot 2016 (draw), and prior to that Durban 2015 (win).

So why am I so nervous?