Cricket-Match-Special ... A forum for discussion

Vince has one of the worst averages of anyone who has played as many matches as he has for England as a specialist bat:
http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine ... e=allround

Three of those with a poorer average than him were pre-WWI.

I never know in this sort of situation whether to be grateful that England have runs on the board, or nervous that the deck is obviously good enough for batting that the lower order can prosper where the top order failed as usual.

Still, after 94/5, 275 runs, and still batting towards the close of play, is a good recovery. If you put a team in, you usually want to bowl them out in a day for less than 200, so New Zealand will be a little disappointed in their second half of the day. They're still in a good position, but it could have been much better,

Let's hope YJB is not stranded not-out in the 90s...

Bairstow on 97, one over left in the day

Thank goodness for that partnership between Bairstow and Wood! Always useful with the bat Wood, and good to see him score a 50, Vince has to go, he is awful! Root up to 3, Livingstone at 4!

I think Vince and Stoneman need at least a 50 in the second innings, but personally they both need to do it in a way that is relatively faultless.

Stoneman got a start, but for me this innings told a lot. He was hapless early one, he got lucky several times, and despite that as the ball got older and he got settled he lost concentration.

World class batsman take a piece of luck and punish you for it . Test class batsman take two pieces of luck and do the same.

Stoneman was blessed with two hours of it and made 30.

Not sure why vince is even there. Livingstone must have been caught texting the coaches daughter

I think Stoneman will stay in the side for some time...no one else really knockig the door down, and they could well need another opener soon, if/when Cook calls it a day

good luck with his averages

Boult has a wicket every six overs in the series and Southee six and a half. Magnificent effort.

England hitting back. Openers out to A&B. Looking over the four Tests at the ground it looks a bit unpredictable how it'll play over the whole game but it doesn't look like it'll flatten into a road.

Anderson calling a review on Kane now. Big moment.

Not out. Looks like today is starting like yesterday.

Going to be interesting to see how Leach gets on, if he gets a bowl.

did Sodhi do much?

Broad gets another

NZ batsmen want to drive everything.