/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F13%2F20%2Falastair-cook-england.jpg "England vs. New Zealand - Second Test, day two - as it happened")
England passed 300 runs on day two of the second Test against New Zealand as the match at Headingley finally got underway following the abandonment of play on Friday.
Despite a solid start from England after electing to bat first, a couple of wickets late in the first session saw the hosts reach lunch on 67-3.
Ian Bell was dismissed for 30 in the afternoon but a century partnership between Jonny Bairstow (64) and Joe Root (104), who recorded his maiden Test hundred at his home ground, gave the control back to England.
New Zealand fought back late on in Yorkshire but England ended the day in a position of strength as Matt Prior (37*) and Graeme Swann (21*) steered their side to 336-7.
7.07pmThank you for joining me today and make sure you come back tomorrow at 10.30am, when coverage of day three will begin.
7.06pmNew Zealand's persistence means that they have stayed in this game but a magical innings from root has given the hosts the upper hand. Prior ends the day on 37 not out and he'll be joined at the crease in the morning on 21.
ENG 336-7CLOSE OF PLAY: Prior steers the ball behind point on the off-side for four runs at the start of Southee's over. He's happy to defend the remaining deliveries and that's it for the day.
ENG 332-7Bracewell bowls a sloppy over, with England's players trading singles early. Swann drives through the off-side for two more. Swann ends the over with a drilled cover drive for four. There should be just one more over left in the day.
ENG 324-7Prior nudges a single to move to 32 early in Southee's over. A leg-bye allows Swann to get out of the firing line after being struck on the shoulder by a Southee bouncer.
ENG 320-7Swann lofts Wagner's first ball over cover to earn two runs before finding the rope to further frustrate McCullum as he looks to end the day on a positive note.
ENG 314-7Prior opens the face again to steer the ball to the third man rope for four more runs. England's wicketkeeper continues to score freely as he frustrates Southee again by hammering the ball through point for another boundary.
ENG 306-7Wagner is back for a new spell and he's immediately whipped through mid-wicket for a single by Prior. Swann rocks back deep in his crease to cut the ball past point for three more. Prior adds another single late in the over to steal the strike.
ENG 301-7Bracewell puts down a chance at mid-wicket when Prior attempts to punch a Southee delivery through the leg-side. Southee looks distraught but he's bowled much better than his one wicket suggests. Just a single from the over.
ENG 300-7Boult looks tired as he sends down a juicy half-tracker which Prior happily dispatches over mid-wicket for four runs. A fuller ball is clipped into the leg-side for a single before a miscued shot from Swann through mid-wicket brings up the 300 for the hosts.
ENG 293-7Good from Swann, who will only attack, as he punches the ball past the fielder at cover for two runs. Southee gets one to leave Swann late but there's no edge involved.
ENG 291-7Graeme Swann gets off the mark with a single to give the strike to Prior, who drills a drive straight down the ground for four.
ENG 286-7The wickets keep coming for the Black Caps. Broad departs without troubling the scores when he sends an inside edge to McCullum, who takes his fifth catch.
ENG 286-7WICKET! BROAD (0) C McCULLUM B BOULT
ENG 286-6Southee eases through another over and he's swinging the ball just as he has done throughout the previous games between the two sides. Prior is made to play a couple of times but he survives and flicks the ball to the fine leg rope for four. Seven in the over.
ENG 279-6The second new ball does the job again for the Kiwis as Bairstow offers an edge to McCullum. No century for the other Yorkshire player in this game but it's still been a very good innings from Bairstow. Stuart Broad in next for England.
ENG 279-6WICKET! BAIRSTOW (64) C McCULLUM B BOULT
ENG 279-5Good work from Fulton at mid-off who has to come a long way down to block Bairstow's straight drive.
ENG 279-5Prior gets on top of the bounce well at the start of a new Southee over to collect two through mid-wicket. The same batsman opens the face to guide a wider delivery past gully for a boundary. New Zealand won't want Prior to hang around for long.
ENG 273-5Matt Prior is off the mark and he gets his first run of this series with a single to point. Bairstow plays a late cut through the slips to pick up two more and move to 64.
ENG 270-5New Zealand take the new ball and immediately the breakthrough is made. Root edges a wider one from Boult to McCullum and that's the end of a fantastic innings. Superb performance from a player with a very big future.
ENG 270-5WICKET! ROOT (104) C McCULLUM B BOULT
ENG 270-4Bairstow earns an easy single with a clip to mid-wicket early in the returning Williamson's over. A nudge off the hip gives Root another run and Bairstow rotates the strike again with a push to mid-on. One more means it's four singles from the over.
ENG 266-4The singing continues as Wagner makes his way through another over, conceding just two runs. Bairstow takes a risk when he chips the ball into the air but the ball drops just short of a fielder. One more over left until the second new ball is available.
ENG 264-4CENTURY FOR ROOT! A thick edge races past first slip and to the rope for four to give Root his maiden Test match hundred. Brilliant scenes at Headingley as the crowd sing Root's name while the 22-year-old raises his bat to all sides of the ground. Fantastic innings.
ENG 259-4A mistake from Southee at point gifts a run to Root, who gets the strike back when Bairstow rushes a single to mid-on. Root nudges the ball into a gap on the leg-side and some good running allows him to collect two.
ENG 255-4Probably the best shot of the day from Bairstow as he brilliantly guides the ball through mid-wicket for four runs to leave Wagner looking down at his feet in frustration.
ENG 251-4Bairstow drives the ball but doesn't middle it and only picks up two early in Bracewell's over. The batsman survives an lbw appeal because of the angle of Bracewell's delivery. Three from the over.
ENG 248-4Root is just seven runs short of that century now, can he get there?
ENG 248-4Bairstow drives well through the covers but can only pick out the fielder and is kept on strike. There's no frustration for the batsman this time as he reaches FIFTY with four past mid-on. Big innings at an important time for the young batsman. Five from the over and it's time for drinks.
ENG 243-4Root once again takes a single early in an over by guiding the ball to cover point. Bairstow tucks the ball away off his hip to cruise for three runs. Oh, dear. Check those heart-rates Headingley. McCullum claims a catch down the leg-side off Root and the skipper chooses to review the decision but Hotspot shows the ball clipped the bad, rather than the edge.
ENG 239-4Root clips one through the leg-side but only picks up a single due to some good fielding. Bairstow crunches a drive but Guptill stops the ball at cover. There's a nervous moment when Wagner gets a touch on a Bairstow drive before the ball hits the stumps. A replay shows Root was in his crease though so he survives and his batting partner gets four.
ENG 234-4Root moves into the nineties with two through cover at the beginning of a new spell from Bracewell. That's also 1,000 runs this season for him. The man of the moment gets off strike with a single behind point. Decent return for Bracewell.
ENG 231-4Root hands the strike to Bairstow at the beginning of the over and Bairstow continues to score freely when he flicks the ball off his pads for four runs. It's very easy for these two at the moment.
ENG 226-4Bairstow seems to be growing in confidence as he reverse sweeps the ball for two runs midway through Williamson's over. A single brings Root on strike and he moves to 87 thanks to a well-worked three runs to fine leg.
ENG 220-4Brilliant from Bairstow as he takes advantage of a slightly short ball from Wagner to pull the ball to the rope for four. The same batsman pushes the ball straight past the bowler to sneak a single later in the over. Rare mistake from Root as he swings his bat needlessly at a wider ball from Wagner.
ENG 215-4Root now has 84, while Bairstow is sitting comfortable on 27.
ENG 215-4Williamson is back for a new spell but he immediately drops the ball short to allow Root the freedom to pull a single to deep square-leg. Bairstow is frustrated in his attempts to find a run but eventually gets off strike with a nudge to mid-on. Root adds three more to his total with a late cut to third man but Bairstow will keep the strike thanks to a rushed single to mid-on.
ENG 209-4It's another very good over from Wagner, who finds a good line to Bairstow to force the batsman to block out a maiden.
ENG 209-4Root pulls a short ball towards square-leg and a slip from Boult allows the batsman to collect two runs. The 22-year-old is eager to play the ball down the ground but can only pick out the fielder at mid-on. Good over from Southee.
ENG 207-4Wagner replaces Williamson following that disastrous over and it's a good six balls from the left-arm seamer. Maiden over.
ENG 207-4Southee is far more economical with his style of bowling as he completes another over for the loss of one run.
ENG 206-419 runs from that last over. Brilliant for England but very poor from Williamson.
ENG 206-4Bairstow latches onto a fuller ball to powerfully hit four runs through mid-wicket off Williamson. The same batsman is gifted an extra run when an overthrow evades a couple of fielders. Root joins the party by scoring three consecutive boundaries thanks to a whip through mid-wicket, an orthodox sweep shot and a reverse sweep to add four more to give the fans something to cheer.
ENG 187-4Southee's short ball is pulled away by Root for a single before Bairstow guides the ball wide of gully for another run. Two more runs are shared later in the over before Root claims another couple to deep mid-wicket.
ENG 181-4Bairstow attempts to cut twice before finally finding the middle of the bat to earn two runs through cover. Williamson does well though to keep Bairstow in a defensive mindset.
ENG 179-4Southee returns to the attack after tea and he delivers a tight over to complete a maiden.
ENG 179-4It's Williamson who starts the session and he launches a big appeal for lbw against Root when the batsman sweeps. Root's safe though as he was hit outside the line of off-stump. One from the over.
4.17pmThat's tea pretty much over with so we've got some more cricket to enjoy. New Zealand will hope to expose England's tail before the end of the day. Can they do it?
4.11pmNew Zealand lost a bit of control in that session and McCullum seemed to struggle to execute his plans. He'll want to see a big improvement just after the interval.
4.08pmThe Headingley crowd will be delighted to see the two Yorkshire players at the crease at the moment. If Root and Bairstow continue to combine until stumps, England will be in control.
ENG 178-4Remember that we're making up time today due to the rain on day one. We can play on until 7pm to get in the 98 overs.
ENG 178-4TEA: Bell may have gone but that was certainly England's session. Root could provide us with a magical moment if he records a century on his home ground. He heads into the break on 61, while Bairstow has 13.
ENG 178-4Boult urges the umpire to raise his finger midway through the final over of the session but the ball pitched outside leg before hitting Bairstow's pad. The batsman responds by reaching the rope again with a flick through fine leg for four. There's an even bigger appeal for lbw later in the over but the umpire signals a run rather than a leg-bye. A replay suggests that was wrong but it certainly wasn't lbw, either.
ENG 172-4Root seems to be able to pick every gap in the field as he cruises another couple with a push through the covers. Bracewell surprises Root with a delivery that swings back sharply. A single brings Bairstow on strike and he continues the good running with two to deep mid-wicket. Wagner does well at mid-on but his piece of fielding can't stop Bairstow adding another single.
ENG 166-4Boult is tucked away by Root, who picks up two runs and adds another couple with a late cut to deep point. It's a good reply from Boult but he can't stop the batsman rushing another single to keep the strike.
ENG 161-4Root continues to score easily as he collects two with a whip through mid-wicket before rotating the strike with a single towards the same area. Bairstow gets off the mark when Bracewell drops the ball too short, allowing the batsman to cut for four.
ENG 154-4Boult is back but he starts poorly with a wild delivery to add a bye to the England total. The bowler is looking for a magic delivery in the over but Root is doing very well to keep out the fuller balls. Root then pushes the ball through point for a single but Bairstow remains on zero.
ENG 152-4Much better length being bowled by Bracewell now but there's no reward as an edge from Root sails past the slips for four. FIFTY! Root nudges the ball into a gap on the leg-side to collect two to reach his half-century and give the Headingley crowd something to applaud. Good innings so far from the local man.
ENG 146-4Williamson is clearly full of confidence now as he gets one to go past Bairstow's edge. The new batsman does survive and England need another partnership.
ENG 146-4Williamson does the trick for the Kiwis as he removes Bell. The England batsman gets his feet stuck between going forward and back before edging the ball to McCullum. Jonny Bairstow, another Yorkshire player, in next.
ENG 146-4WICKET! BELL (30) C McCULLUM B WILLIAMSON
ENG 145-3The returning Bracewell starts with a wider ball and Root can only work the ball away off the toe of his bat for two runs. Even worse from the bowler as he strays onto the legs to allow Bell to flick the ball away effortlessly for four.
ENG 138-3Bell enjoys using his feet against the spin but he doesn't make great contact after dancing down the pitch. However, the ball drops safely and he picks up a single. Good cricket from England following that shot as the duo in the middle combine to score five in the over.
ENG 133-3Root picks the gap well to collect two runs early in Wagner's new over. Bell defends well before cutting the ball in front of point but Guptill does well to restrict the batsman to a a single.
ENG 130-3Loose start from Williamson as the spinner delivers two full tosses to begin the over. Root can only pick up a single due to a mistake in the field though. Bell looks relaxed against the part-time bowler and shows his comfort to drive the ball through the covers for four.
ENG 125-3Wagner's first ball is pushed to cover by Root, who hurries a single. It's tight, but not threatening, from Wagner. Time for Williamson to have a bowl.
ENG 124-3Root works Bracewell to fine leg for two runs at the start of a new over. The same batsman throws his hands at a wider ball but doesn't make enough contact to hit the ball through the covers. Root will keep the strike thanks to a single to deep square-leg.
ENG 121-3Wagner attempts a bouncer but the pitch is too slow and Root is able to pull powerfully, picking out the fielder at mid-wicket. It's a maiden over but Wagner is struggling to hit the right areas.
ENG 121-3Bracewell is back into the attack but he can't stop the flow of runs as Bell drills a full toss straight down the ground for four. A nudge into the off-side allows Bell to hurry a single and he'll keep the strike for the next over following Root's defence at the end of the over.
ENG 116-3Great shot from Root as he stands deep in his crease to guide the ball past gully for four stylish runs. Root retreats to defend a few deliveries before pouncing again to cut the ball away for two more runs.
ENG 110-3Good partnership between Root and Bell so far. They both could do with a big score in an England shirt in this match. Bell may just cash in after receiving that let-off a few overs ago.
ENG 110-3Southee races through another over, conceding just a single to Root. New Zealand haven't been at their best since lunch, so they'll have to rethink their plans over the drinks break.
ENG 109-3Bell drives hard at a Wagner delivery and earns four down the ground despite mistiming the shot slightly. The bowler recovers following the boundary to keep the rest of the over tight. Still bright sunshine at Headingley. Yes, this is far better than yesterday.
ENG 105-3Superb piece of timing from Root as he opens the face slightly to steer the ball through the off-side and to the rope. Southee persists with his full length and he beats the edge later in the over with one that holds its line.
ENG 101-3Wagner is back for a new spell and he puts plenty of effort into the over without any reward. Bell watches most of the balls fly wide of the off-stump and it's a maiden.
ENG 101-3Beauty from Southee to beat Root's edge and the batsman is happy to acknowledge a good delivery. Southee brings one back sharply at the end of the over but Root survives. Very good over.
ENG 101-3Root clips the ball away from his toes midway through Boult's over for a single. Bell takes a chance by leaving the ball in a cavalier manner and there seems to be a noise as the ball carries through to McCullum. Hotspot doesn't show an edge but the replays suggest that he did hit the ball. No appeal, no shouts from New Zealand.
ENG 100-3Perfect example of how to use the review system from Bell. Southee hits the pads and it looks a good shout for lbw, with the umpire agreeing as he raises the finger. Bell disagrees and the review shows the ball would have missed the stumps.
ENG 100-3Easy runs for Bell as he cuts a wider ball behind point for two before nudging the ball to deep square-leg for a single. Root picks the gap on the leg-side to collect two more, bringing up the century for England in the process.
ENG 95-3Southee is too wide and Root rocks back to hammer the ball through cover point for four runs. McCullum does superbly to block a wayward delivery down the leg-side from Southee before taking a more routine delivery a ball later. Root ends the over in style as he stands tall to punch the ball past point for another boundary.
ENG 87-3Bell takes a single early in Boult's over before Root does the same to deep square-leg. Boult pushes one across the batsman and Bell does well to avoid driving at the fuller ball. McCullum is excited when he takes a catch behind the stumps but Boult isn't interested and it appears the ball hit Bell's back pad.
ENG 85-3Southee does come back into the attack to replace Bracewell and he goes very full to Root. The Yorkshire ace is happy to block and is eager to stay back in the crease when Southee drops his length slightly. Root hangs his bat outside off-stump but wisely pulls it away as Southee's swinging delivery threatens to take the edge.
ENG 85-3Boult struggles to find the right line to Bell and is punished as the batsman flicks the ball off his hip to pick up four runs. The bowler responds well to encourage a drive from Bell, with bat and ball being separated by an inch or two.
ENG 81-3Poor from Bracewell as he strays onto the pads but Bell can only find a single to fine leg. The bowler finds the edge later in the over but Root plays the shot with soft hands to escape the danger with a single. Three from the over, McCullum may think about Southee soon.
ENG 78-3The England duo trade singles on the leg-side early in Boult's new over. It's tidy from Boult after lunch and he refuses to offer any freebies to the batsmen.
ENG 76-3It's Bracewell who takes the ball from the other end and he's immediately too full, meaning Root can whip the ball through mid-wicket for two. A thick edge squirms through the slips and the batsman sneaks another single.
ENG 73-3Boult starts the over by dropping the ball on his approach to the crease before settling down to deliver a few challenging deliveries to Bell. A flick off the pad allows Bell to collect two to get off the mark. Some late swing evades McCullum behind the stumps to fly away for four byes at the end of the over.
1.39pmBell and Root are back out in the middle after enjoying a few cucumber sandwiches and it's time to get down to business. Boult starts the session with the ball in hand.
1.37pmWelcome back. Well, that seemed like a routine session of Test cricket before those five minutes before lunch. Cook and Trott are both back in the dressing room and suddenly, the Kiwis hold the advantage. Root and Bell will both start the afternoon session on zero.
1.02pmWe'll take a break during lunch but make sure you return in around 35 minutes for the afternoon session.
ENG 67-3LUNCH: England looked comfortable for most of the session following the early dismissal of Compton. However, those two wickets just before the interval mean that New Zealand head back to the dressing rooms the happier of the two sides. Big session of cricket coming up.
ENG 67-3Local lad Joe Root is given a standing ovation on his way to the crease, with just a few moments left before lunch. The new batsman does survive but it's a great over for Bracewell and the Black Caps.
ENG 67-3In the space of two balls, New Zealand have taken control. The England captain drives at the start of Bracewell's over and edges the ball to the brilliant Brownlie in the slips. Amazing spell for the tourists!
ENG 67-3WICKET! COOK (34) C BROWNLIE B BRACEWELL
ENG 67-2Big wicket and it's come at a crucial time for the tourists. Trott targets another boundary when Wagner goes full again but the batsman can only edge the ball to McCullum. Wagner is delighted, Ian Bell in next.
ENG 67-2WICKET! TROTT (28) C McCULLUM B WAGNER
ENG 67-1Great timing from Trott as he crunches a drive through the off-side for four to put the pressure on Wagner at the beginning of a new over.
ENG 63-1Bracewell has been full for the majority of his spell and when he attempts a bouncer he's sent to the boundary thanks to a hook shot from Cook for four. It's all a bit too easy for England as lunch approaches and this partnership has now gone past 50.
ENG 59-1Wagner is eager to make Cook play but he's too full and that allows the hosting skipper to pick up three through cover. The Headingley crowd are very loud today. Must be some very good bar staff working.
ENG 56-1Trott is tempted by a full ball outside off-stump and he's lucky to see a loose drive drop short of the fielder at gully. It's a maiden again but Bracewell is too wide for the majority with the deliveries.
ENG 56-1Wagner is rightly punished for a wide ball early in a new over and he strays again two balls later to allow Trott to flick the ball through the leg-side for a single. The bowler attempts a yorker and Cook does well to dig out the fuller ball.
ENG 54-1There's a hopeful appeal for lbw when Trott's back leg is struck but the ball, which was heading down the leg-side, hit the batsman outside leg-stump. If England make it to lunch with these two at the crease, batting is likely to become easier in the afternoon session. Good over from Bracewell and it's a maiden.
ENG 54-1Wagner is finding a much better length at this stage of his spell but he can't stop Cook sneaking a single through point. Trott, in trademark fashion, scratches at the crease before rocking back to defend another delivery.
ENG 53-1Cook is happy to block early in Bracewell's over before nudging a ball to mid-off for a single. There's a big slice of luck for Trott when an edge drops just short of the slips and races away for four. Very unlucky for Bracewell.
ENG 48-1Wagner stays very full to Trott throughout the over and the batsman is left frustrated when he mistimes a couple of drives. A no-ball from Wagner is struck well, with Trott picking up two through cover.
ENG 45-1Doug Bracewell is introduced for the first time in the series and his second ball is steered through third man for four as Cook welcomes a new opponent to the game in style. Even better just one delivery later when Cook stands tall to drive through the covers for four more. Big appeal for lbw from the tourists but there's a shake of the head from the umpire. McCullum uses a review but the ball didn't do enough to come back and hit the stumps so Cook is safe.
ENG 37-1Cook does well to keep out a slower ball from Wagner before drilling a fuller delivery to the boundary for four. A push to wide mid-off brings a single for the captain. There's plenty of gasps from the slips later in the over when Trott leaves but England's number three doesn't seem too bothered.
ENG 32-1Solid start to this game for New Zealand, who will be content with one wicket in the first hour. This is the key partnership though and McCullum will want another breakthrough before lunch.
ENG 32-1Southee beats Cook with a beauty that holds its line midway through the over but the batsman comes back well with two runs through extra cover a ball later. A single to deep square-leg brings Trott on strike and he survives the remainder of the over. Time for a drinks break.
ENG 29-1Change of bowling as Wagner comes on to replace Southee. The left-arm seamer strays onto the pads and Trott helps himself to four runs through mid-wicket. Good response from Wagner as he follows the boundary with five dot balls.
ENG 25-1Southee is finding the perfect line to both England men as he breezes through another over for the loss of just one run, which Trott gladly accepted. Beautiful day at Headingley and the ground is filling up nicely.
ENG 24-1Boult pushes his luck again and is punished by the umpire for a wide ball. Cook is then struck on the pad but the appeal is rejected and McCullum wisely chooses against reviewing the decision. Just one from the over.
ENG 23-1Brilliant from Trott as he leans on a full delivery to guide the ball through extra cover for four. Wagner does well at mid-on to stop another well timed shot from Trott and a piece of poor calling means it is a dot ball.
ENG 19-1Boult is too short early in the over but Cook can only pick out the fielder at point with his cut shot. The bowler quickly finds his rhythm and line to complete a maiden. Good pressure from the tourists.
ENG 19-1Much better over from Southee, who delivers a maiden to Trott. McCullum knows that the next wicket is crucial.
ENG 19-1Boult has been his usual dependable self so far this morning and he races through another maiden. The 23-year-old has been impressive again in this series.
ENG 19-1Southee goes too full to the toes of Trott but the new batsman picks out the fielder at mid-wicket with his shot. The bowler produces a perfect out-swinging delivery and Trott is fortunate not to edge the ball to McCullum. Soft hands from Trott sees the next ball race past the slips for four runs before a flick off the feet brings another boundary. Good over for England.
ENG 11-1Good tactics from Boult as he delivers a few out-swinging balls before straightening one to force Cook into a good defensive stroke. Maiden over and it's Jonathan Trott's turn now.
ENG 11-1Southee continued to shape the ball away from Compton and the opener finally drives at a wider one to give Brownlie the opportunity to take a brilliant catch in the slips. Important early breakthrough for the Kiwis.
ENG 11-1WICKET! COMPTON (1) C BROWNLIE B SOUTHEE
ENG 11-0Mid-off is wide for Southee and that allows Cook to nudge a single straight down the ground.
ENG 10-0Boult swings one back early in the over before losing his accuracy and delivering a wide ball. Compton refuses to play a shot outside off-stump though and is more than happy to continue to defend.
ENG 9-0Southee takes the new ball from the other end and Compton immediately gets off strike with a single behind square on the leg-side. There's some good movement in the air for Southee but Cook is confident playing against the ball coming into him. Cook shows his class when he pushes a fuller ball straight down the ground for four runs at the end of the over.
ENG 4-0Boult starts well but a loose delivery down the leg-side allows Cook to collect four to fine leg with a flick off the pad. The bowler readjusts and delivers a couple of wider deliveries to end the first over.
11.00amBoth teams are out in the middle and we're ready for this game to finally begin. Trent Boult will bowl the first over of the day.
10.57amMcCullum has suggested that he would have bowled, so he will be expecting a fast start from his bowlers this morning.
10.52amPlay is under 10 minutes away. It's a gorgeous day at Headingley and we should be set for a full day of cricket.
10.48amDespite being dismissed for 68 less than a week ago, New Zealand shouldn't be too concerned this morning. The touring bowlers were very good at Lord's and there's no worries about their form but they'll need support from the batsmen in this game too.
10.44amAfter electing to bat it's important for England to begin well this morning. A big first innings score could take the game, and series, away from New Zealand.
10.39amNew Zealand have decided against bringing in another spinner, so it will be interesting to see how the four-man seam attack performs today.
10.36amEngland have won the toss and Alastair Cook has elected to bat first on a sunny morning in Yorkshire.
10.35amTEAM NEWS: New Zealand make two chances, with Doug Bracewell and Martin Guptill replacing injured duo BJ Watling and Bruce Martin.
Fulton, Rutherford, Williamson, Taylor, Brownlie, McCullum, Guptill, Southee, Wagner, Bracewell, Boult
10.34amTEAM NEWS: As expected, England name an unchanged side.
Cook, Compton, Trott, Bell, Root, Bairstow, Prior, Broad, Swann, Finn, Anderson
10.31amBoth captains will head out to the middle and the toss will finally be won by one of the teams.
10.28amGood morning everyone. I promise you, there will be some cricket today. The forecast looks good for the weekend and the heavy rain which forced day one to be abandoned seems to have disappeared.
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England
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