England v New Zealand: second men’s Test, day two – as it happened

For all that the job wore him down over a five-year period, Joe Root was only ever going to say yes when England found themselves needing a sensible stand-in captain in the wake of Ben Stokes and that late night after Lord’s. But there will surely have been a few doubts when the call from Rob Key came in; flashbacks to the final throes of Root’s reign, when even a personally celestial final 12 months with the bat could not prevent the team’s overall slide. Glenn Phillips’ maiden Test ton and a fine bowling effort from New Zealand’s quicks put the visitors in command.

England need their tail to do some decent wagging if they are to get anywhere near parity on first innings. Thanks for your company and correspondence today, we’ll be back tomorrow for day three. Goodnight.

Matt Hughes with the news… the return of Ben Stokes looking a step closer? Cox and Archer survive the final over, they’ll be back tomorrow morning to try and chip away at the quite substantial deficit. New Zealand do some low key high fives and back slaps as they walk off, they’ve had a really good day, posting nigh on 400 and then getting rid of England’s entire top order before the day is out.

58th over: England 221-6 (Cox 21, Archer 0) Cox clips O’Rourke for two off his tootsies and then scampers a single to take strike for what will actually be the last over of the day. Here comes Matt Henry to deliver it. 57th over: England 218-6 (Cox 18, Archer 0) Cox takes a single from O’Rourke’s first ball.

Jofra blocks out the over with a steadfast and straight blade. We might get one more in before the close. It’s New Zealand’s day that’s for sure.

56th over: England 217-6 (Cox 17, Archer 0) That was not clever cricket from James Rew who had a look of ruddy disconsolation as he hauled himself from the middle. Jofra Archer is in at number 8 and England are teetering here, they still trail by 174 runs! Ah.

About that. Rew plays another compulsive hook to O’Rourke, top edges and gifts his wicket with minutes left in the day! 55th over: England 216-5 (Rew 24, Cox 16) Smith bustles in, Rew gets in behind and blocks out six in a row.

He’s had one let off and doesn’t want to be suckered into giving another chance with just moments left in the day… Andy Bull has already dipped his quill and filed his piece on England’s torrid first hour of day two: 54th over: England 216-5 (Rew 24, Cox 16) DROP! It’s Rachin Ravindra who spills the chance once again! Rew hooks O’Rourke but doesn’t get enough on it, the ball goes high down to the boundary behind square, Ravindra reacts late and hares in to get under it, the ball goes straight in and straight back out again!

53rd over: England 214-5 (Rew 24, Cox 15) Smith dots up Rew, a maiden as we approach the close of play. New Zealand would dearly love to prise one of these debutants from the crease before stumps. 52nd over: England 214-5 (Rew 24, Cox 15) Shot!

James Rew pulls O’Rourke and it scorches through midwicket for four. 51st over: England 208-5 (Rew 18, Cox 14) Cox collects a couple through the covers and pockets a single to fine leg. Smith keeps Rew honest with three dots to complete the over.

50th over: England 205-5 (Rew 18, Cox 11) O’Rourke replaces a wayward Jamieson and starts with a well directed bouncer that has Cox ducking for cover. Wisden’s Ben Gardner breezes into the press box like a breath of fresh Alpine air and posits the question of who of Rew (J) and Cox will end up with the most Test runs. Over to you OBO followers, I’m not going to lead the witnesses… 49th over: England 204-5 (Rew 18, Cox 10) Nathan Smith replaces Henry and releases the valve with his first ball, wide and full to Cox who gladly clatters to the point boundary.

The 200 comes up for England. 48th over: England 199-5 (Rew 18, Cox 5) What nerves?! Rew pings two boundaries off Jamieson, a push through cover a flourish off the toes that whistles through midwicket.

47th over: England 191-5 (Rew 10, Cox 5) Rew clips for three off his hip. The Somerset man looking a bit more settled than Cox out there at the minute. Both will be grateful for a single into the legside to keep them ticking along.

Long shadows across the Oval, a little over half an hour left in the day and a crucial period to navigate for England’s newbies. 46th over: England 186-5 (Rew 6, Cox 4) New Zealand keep the pressure on, Jamieson keeps Cox honest and stitches together a maiden. 45th over: England 186-5 (Rew 6, Cox 4) Blundell stays up to the stumps to Henry, Rew edges wide of the cordon for four.

Five dots follow. Tense out there! 44th over: England 182-5 (Rew 2, Cox 4) Ooohs and aaahs at the Oval as Rew leaves one that jags back and goes over the top by less than he’d have wanted.

Cox then nervously hacks at a length ball and very nearly chops onto his own pegs! That’s four though! Cox gets off the mark in Test cricket with a bottom handed square drive for four.

That’ll settle him down a bit. 43rd over: England 177-5 (Rew 1, Cox 0) England have two Test debutants at the crease now and the game is on the line. Jordan Cox blocks out Matt Henry and it is a probing wicket maiden.

Welcome to Test cricket, pal. That is stone dead! Brook is gone gone gone and England are in trouble here!

It was very much an Ashes 2025/6 dismissal for Brook with the keeper stood up and a flat footed poke to a full ball arrowed in at the pads. He doesn’t bother with a review, wisely, and trudges straight off. 42nd over: England 177-4 (Brook 24, Rew 1) The collective Kiwi dander is up after the Root wicket.

James Rew gets his first Test run with a single dropped into the leg side. And breathe Jimmy boy. Brook flicks a four off his legs as Jamieson strays too straight.

41st over: England 169-3 (Brook 18, Rew 0) Rew plays a solid defence to his first ball from Henry and that’s the over. The crowd a little stunned here at the Oval, Root fell two shy of the 14,000 run mark and they were girding their loins to give him a big ovation. He didn’t look best pleased with the decision as he walked off.

Out of nowhere Joe Root is gone! Matt Henry pins him on the knee roll and the umpire raises his finger. Root thinks he is safely outside the line and reviews the decision but it is out in umpire’s call!

That’s a big wicket, Root looked entirely untroubled but he’s on his way and debutant James Rew is walking out for his first knock in Test cricket. 40th over: England 169-3 (Root 46, Brook 17) You look up and Joe Root is nearly on 14,000 Test runs… Kyle Jamieson replaces O’Rourke and Root glides another four past gully and closes in on another landmark. 39th over: England 164-3 (Root 42, Brook 16) Brook glides a single all along the watchtower baize past gully.

Matt Henry loses his run up a couple of times. Tom Blundell is up to the stumps but fumbles a leg side take and they scamper a single. 38th over: England 162-3 (Root 42, Brook 15) Four singles off O’Rourke.

You’re still thinking about that Brook six, aren’t you. Admit it. You scoundrel.

37th over: England 158-3 (Root 40, Brook 13) I’m still not over that shot from Brook by the way. Neither is ESPN’s Matt Roller who accosts me in the gents, the less said about that the better. Then bump into The Telegraph’s Will Macpherson on the way back and he waggishly says the Brook shot is what Ollie Robinson was trying to do when he got his stumps splattered in Hobart in the 2022 Ashes.

Reedeeeculous. Anyway, there’s a single each to Root and Brook. On we go.

36th over: England 156-3 (Root 39, Brook 12) What a shot that is from Harry Brook! I’m not even sure how to describe it… he backs away and uppishly carves O’Rourke over point for a big one! He was walking backwards as he played it, have we seen the first moonwalking six in Test cricket?

The crowd love it and so does Joe Root at t’other end. Three dots follow and then Brook punches through mid off for four more. Do not adjust your set.

35th over: England 145-3 (Root 37, Brook 1) Brook and Root exchange singles as the sun bursts through at the Oval. 18)" 34th over: England 143-3 (Root 37, Brook 1) Gay played really nicely and will be gutted that he got into a tangle with his hands. Harry Brook is the new batter, stand by your beds!

“Jim, at least Freddie was spared the ignominy of losing an England wicket on his watch…” Ooof, that hurts, John Starbuck. Emilio Gay brings up his second half ton in as many Test matches with a beautifully timed pull off O’Rourke. The crowd applaud warmly but he is GONE moments later!

Gay can’t get his gloves out of the way in time to a short ball from O’Rourke and New Zealand have their man after sending it upstairs! 33rd over: England 138-2 (Gay 49, Root 37) Annoyingly competent from Freddie I think you’ll agree. Have sent him packing with his hopes, his dreams and his shimmering prose.

Can he do it on a bilateral T20 in the wee small hours of a Thursday night? Can he? Yeh he probably can.

A maiden from Smith to Root btw. 32nd over: England 138-2 (Gay 49, Root 37) Thanks James, hello everyone! The ever generous Root dabs a quick single from the first ball to give his young counterpart five chances at his fifty.

No pressure. But Gay remains patient and watchful. There’s some slight excitement at the end of the over when Gay tries to nab a quick single to point, but Root rightfully turns him down.

The wait continues! 31st over: England 136-2 (Gay 49, Root 36) Gay plays out a maiden off Smith, his wait for fifty stretches on, Root might very well catch him up at this rate. The next over is going to be brought to you by Freddie Heynes who is on work experience in the Oval press box.

He better not be too good! 30th over: England 136-2 (Gay 49, Root 36) Joe Root! England’s finest is ticking now and picks up three boundaries off O’Rourke!

A Root classic guide through gully is preceded by a crashing cut and emphatic pull. Bottle it, people. Root in full flow is a thing of wonder.

29th over: England 123-2 (Gay 48, Root 24) Shot! Don’t bowl there to Joe Root, a half volley from Smith is pounced on and pinged away through long on for four. 28th over: England 119-2 (Gay 48, Root 20) Hazy sunshine now in South London.

Will O’Rourke has one ball left of the 28th over. He’ll bowl it to Emilio Gay who is two runs away from his second Test match half century. Wide and left well alone.

You have chosen… wisely. Good news, the covers are coming off and it is brightening up. A loud cheer goes up around the ground, this match is delicately poised and there’s an intriguing session in wait.

35pm. O’Rourke to Root with a field set for short pitched bowling. Gah!

That is the rain here at the Oval after just five balls. Here come the covers… Good news! The rains have stayed away/skirted around and the players are emerging for the evening session.

27th over: England 116-2 (Gay 48, Root 19) Gay clips for two into midwicket to go to 48. The brace brings up the the fifty partnership with Root on the cusp of tea and a potential rain shower. There’s a hint of drizzle in the air now actually so not a bad time to break for some sustenance.

Proper criggit in that session, England trail by 273 with 8 wickets in hand. Back soon! 26th over: England 116-2 (Gay 46, Root 19) Gay takes a nip-backer into the nether regions from Henry and is momentarily felled.

Deep breaths, Emilio. Root and Gay exchange singles, they’ve batted nicely in testing conditions. Four!

Soft hands from Gay, guided wide of the cordon for four, he’s heading for another fifty and certainly looks the part. 25th over: England 109-2 (Gay 40, Root 18) We’ve had Leonard, now it is time for Blond on Blond. Kyle Jamieson is back on from the Vauxhall End, all hulking 6ft 8 Dolph Lundgren menace.

Root’s not fussed, a short and wide ball is cut away for four. 24th over: England 105-2 (Gay 40, Root 14) Matt Henry on for a burst before tea, he’s too straight to Root and England’s finest does not miss out, pinging it to the square leg fence with apparent ease. Root keeps strike with a tap and run into the covers, no danger with that one.

Ahem. 23rd over: England 100-2 (Gay 40, Root 9) Root plays across his front pad and the cordon get excited but Root doesn’t miss, albeit with the inside edge of his blade for a slightly spawny single. Smith goes too straight and Gay doesn’t miss out, clipping fine for four.

That’s the ton up for England. 22nd over: England 93-2 (Gay 36, Root 8) The floodlights beam into life, a probing over from O’Rourke is negotiated by Gay who collects two with a push into the covers. Tricky batting conditions right now but the weather for the rest of the Test is hot and sunny, a crucial little period here before the tea break.

21st over: England 93-2 (Gay 34, Root 8) Gay rocks back onto his toes to pull Smith in front of square for a couple and then leans forward to glance for a single to leg. New Zealand give away a no ball for having one too many men behind square on the leg side. It’s gone gloomier than Eeyore at a Leonard Cohen listening party here at the Oval, we might be getting some rain soon you know.

Hope not. Hope not. Songs of Gay and Root?

20th over: England 88-2 (Gay 31, Root 7) O’Rourke spears one down the leg side, it tickles Root’s thigh pad and squirts away for four. Root then gets a single with a clip off his toes. England re-building after the loss of Bethell.

Can I just shock you? This feels like a proper Test match. 19th over: England 83-2 (Gay 31, Root 6) Nice batting from Gay who leaves well outside off to Smith and the bowler blinks first, straying onto the pads and Gay doesn’t miss out, flicking with aplomb though the legside for four.

Shades of one A Cook in that passage. 18th over: England 79-2 (Gay 27, Root 6) O’Rourke is back of a length to Gay, this is what they talk about when they talk about the step up from county to international cricket and the necessity to be able to play off the back foot at balls arrowed in at the ribs… at a decent lick. Gay has looked up to the challenge so far and gets a four for his graft, using the pace to run a boundary away past gully.

Like a Saga holiday in a Costa Brava heatwave, It’s gone a bit grey and clammy here at the Oval, decent conditions for bowling and an absorbing passage of play. 17th over: England 74-2 (Gay 22, Root 6) Joe Root arrives to a chorus of Rooooooots and gets a boundary first ball with a guide away behind point. Look Joe Root up in the dictionary and it might well have that shot next to it.

Root taps a couple more out past point to finish the over, New Zealand buzz about in the aftermath of getting rid of Bethell, another low first innings score for the peroxide haired dasher. Thanks Taha, hello all. It’s gone decidedly muggy here at the Oval.

Ah, it has gone a bit wicket-y too! Smith gets Bethell with a decent nut that zips outside off and draws Bethell into fencing when he could perhaps have left alone. Blundell swallows a sharp catch diving away to his left.

And that’ll be all from me. James Wallace is here to do his thing. 16th over: England 68-1 (Bethell 9, Gay 22) O’Rourke v Gay continues, the quick trying to square up the rookie opener.

After four dots, O’Rourke finally loosens up, offering some width; Gay sends it to the ropes. This is a lovely tussle. Time for drinks.

15th over: England 64-1 (Bethell 9, Gay 18) Nathan Smith is in, fresh off running out Ben Duckett. He bounds in from around the wicket, tight with his line to Bethell, no room there to let the arms flow. New Zealand have been very disciplined in the last few overs.

14th over: England 64-1 (Bethell 9, Gay 18) O’Rourke has locked himself into a battle with Gay. He cranks it up to 90mph, Gay edging the ball low to gully, where Glenn Phillips pulls off the stop. It’s another over of dots from O’Rourke, already making a strong impression.

13th over: England 63-1 (Bethell 9, Gay 18) Bethell eases some of the building pressure with a drive through the covers for four off Henry. 12th over: England 58-1 (Bethell 4, Gay 17) Time for a change. In comes Will O’Rourke, windmill arms working from around the wicket.

He swings the ball away from Gay at 86mph and the opener looks a touch uncomfortable, pushing at the next ball and missing. 11th over: England 58-1 (Bethell 4, Gay 17) Henry gets that ball to whizz past Bethell’s outside edge. 10th over: England 58-1 (Bethell 4, Gay 17) Gay likes it there: out comes the cover drive off Jamieson once again.

Jamieson responds with a peach, squaring up the left-hander. Fascinated to see how Bethell goes: he’s got a first-innings best of 16 in Test cricket, having saved his best for the second half of games. 9th over: England 52-1 (Bethell 4, Gay 11) Gay whips Henry away for three.

Just watching the replay of that run out: Gay’s hand went on to his helmet as he watched the horror unfold at the other end. An awkward reunion with Duckett awaits in the dressing room. Bethell punches behind point and is off the mark with a boundary.

Henry responds with a gorgeous wobble-seam delivery, nipping it away from the left-hander. 8th over: England 45-1 (Bethell 0, Gay 8) Gay and Duckett are still getting to know one another out in the middle – there was a chance to run out Gay before lunch that Smith failed to take. He was grateful for the second opportunity.

Gay drops the ball into the covers … and Nathan Smith hits this time. The New Zealand quick collects and sends in a low throw, taking down the stumps at the striker’s end. Duckett is gone, comfortably.

He was looking in fine nick. 7th over: England 45-0 (Duckett 36, Gay 8) There’s not much happening off the surface for the quicks as Henry decides to go short; Duckett monsters a pull away for four. He’s moving at a T20 strike rate – a clip through midwicket takes Duckett to 36 off 25.

6th over: England 37-0 (Duckett 28, Gay 8) Duckett’s looking in good order – the arms flow outside off, Jamieson dispatched through extra cover. The left-hander looks particularly good going down the ground, punching straight for three more. Jamieson oversteps by some distance, prompting a seventh delivery in the over.

Elsewhere … Ben Stokes has been named in Durham’s 15-man squad for their County Championship fixture against Northamptonshire, which begins on Friday at Chester-le-Street. 5th over: England 25-0 (Duckett 17, Gay 8) There’s a leg slip in place as Henry skips in to bowl at Gay, who pokes outside off, very nearly giving the quick that precious edge. It’s a rare sight today: a maiden.

4th over: England 25-0 (Duckett 17, Gay 8) And we’re back, with Jamieson to resume from the Pavilion End. Duckett punches away for two as Mark Wood joins Stuart Broad on comms for Sky, making me feel very old. Duckett hangs the bat outside off but the ball evades the cordon, travelling to the ropes.

Mike Daniels sent this is in while Glenn Phillips was on the way to a ton: Phillips - he’s such an admirable cricketer in a long line of kiwi players who get the utmost out of themselves and put in performance after performance. Beyond the runs, he’s also put up some very decent numbers with the ball in Test cricket, taking 33 wickets at 31 with those hyperactive off-breaks. It’s New Zealand’s morning, with England looking very messy in the field.

Glenn Phillips, having had that tussle with Jofra Archer yesterday, didn’t have to face the quick today until he was on 97. 3rd over: England 15-0 (Duckett 7, Gay 8) Gay survives! Duckett dabs the ball into the offside and wants a run, and Nathan Smith fires in the throw.

Gay gets to the other end but was a goner if Smith had hit. The Durham man shakes off the scare quickly, punching Henry down the ground with another gorgeous shot. The quick responds with a tasty delivery that moves away from the left-hander.

And with that: lunch. 2nd over: England 10-0 (Duckett 6, Gay 4) Jamieson, fresh from an important knock with the bat, is driven through the covers immediately by Gay: just like Lord’s, he begins with a boundary, welcoming the overpitched outswinger. 1st over: England 6-0 (Duckett 6, Gay 0) Matt Henry starts against Ben Duckett, who welcomes a pitched-up delivery: out comes the straight bat, the ball running through mid-off for four.

Nicely done. A tricky few minutes for Gay and Duckett coming up. The answer is no.

Phillips pulls away and Emilio Gay keeps calm in the deep. It’s still New Zealand’s morning, with Glenn Phillips celebrating his first Test century. WICKET!

Phillips c Gay b Fisher 100 (New Zealand 391 all out) 96th over: New Zealand 391-9 (O’Rourke 0, Phillips 100) Can New Zealand squeeze out a few more and get to 400? Henry, having got his mate to a ton, swings hard immediately – the ball lobs up for a simple grab at extra cover. Jofra Archer, finally.

In comes England’s premier quick, but he can’t stop Phillips from getting to a maiden Test century. New Zealand’s No 7 dabs the ball into the offside and raises his bat to the sky. He did a decent job at Lord’s; he’s been brilliant here.

95th over: New Zealand 388-8 (Henry 5, Phillips 97) Henry is tasked with blocking out Fisher, who gets one to sneak past the outside edge. A bumper leaves Henry in a bit of a state, unable to get out of the way – he collects two leg byes. 94th over: New Zealand 386-8 (Henry 5, Phillips 97) Bethell continues – Jofra Archer is still waiting for his first bowl of the day.

Henry cuts away for four to get up and running, and Phillips ends the over with a thunk over the off-side. He’s three runs away from three figures. 93rd over: New Zealand 377-8 (Henry 0, Phillips 93) Fisher goes short again and it’s off Phillips’ helmet, running away for four.

He’s awarded runs, though, taking him into the 90s. Simon Fuller doesn’t mind this from England. I have a ticket for day 4.

Is it bad of me to be celebrating England’s generous approach to bowling this morning? 92nd over: New Zealand 373-8 (Henry 0, Phillips 89) Bethell, again. Phillips takes a single immediately, allowing Henry to show off his forward defence against some left-arm tweak.

91st over: New Zealand 372-8 (Henry 0, Phillips 88) Fisher continues … and Phillips demolishes a short ball, the 83mph effort welcomed by the No 7. A clip into the leg-side takes him to a new Test-best; crucially, it keeps him on strike for the next over. 90th over: New Zealand 367-8 (Henry 0, Phillips 83) It’s up to Matt Henry now to keep Phillips company.

Glenn Phillips, I’m surprised to read, has yet to score a Test ton. Here’s Bethell, who Phillips punches for a single. And England strike after drinks!

Bethell fires in a dart and Jamieson, going for a hefty slog, misses. Relief for Root and co. 89th over: New Zealand 365-7 (Jamieson 40, Phillips 82) Here comes Matt Fisher and Jamieson smacks away through the leg-side to collect a couple, with Jordan Cox pulling off a decent stop by the ropes.

This’ll be four though: Jamieson whips away through the leg-side again. Both batters look very comfortable out there. “This has been a really bad hour for England,” says Michael Atherton on Sky.

Maybe an understatement. Time for drinks. 88th over: New Zealand 357-7 (Jamieson 33, Phillips 81) Bethell continues – and sneaks through a fairly quiet over, just a single off it.

Still unclear why he’s bowling right now. 87th over: New Zealand 356-7 (Jamieson 33, Phillips 80) Jamieson, having taken those blows to the helmet, welcomes anything full: he lets the arms flow into a lush cover drive off Tongue. Four more.

86th over: New Zealand 350-7 (Jamieson 27, Phillips 80) I’m thoroughly confused here: Jacob Bethell is on with the second new ball only five overs old. The punishment continues as Jamieson rocks back and punches through the covers for four. That’s 350 up, only eight overs after getting to 300.

85th over: New Zealand 345-7 (Jamieson 22, Phillips 80) Phillips plays late to guide Tongue behind point for four more – this stand, worth 65, is moving at close to a run a ball. Richard O’Hagan writes in, not best pleased with what he’s watching. England seem to have decided to bowl like they are the 1986 West Indies.

Unfortunately they are doing so with all of the guile, skill and common sense of 1986 England. So disappointing after (most of) yesterday’s performance. 84th over: New Zealand 340-7 (Jamieson 21, Phillips 76) Baker continues but Phillips is enjoying himself now, punching through the offside, clipping through leg, collecting consecutive boundaries.

83rd over: New Zealand 332-7 (Jamieson 21, Phillips 68) Tongue cuts Jamieson in half, jagging the ball into the right-hander. Finally, a fairly quiet over. 82nd over: New Zealand 329-7 (Jamieson 21, Phillips 65) Baker continues, surprising the animated Phillips with one that keeps low.

He goes short to Jamieson, though, and the hulking New Zealand quick needs to get checked out buy the doc again after another blow to the helmet. Hope he’s OK. After a break in play, Jamieson ends the over with a beautiful punch through the covers for four.

England are leaking plenty here. John Starbuck writes in: Another drop! This time by Duckett, who’s usually a pretty reliable fielder.

I suspect some of the drops at Lord’s, such as those by Rachin Ravindra, may be down to too-powerful sun glasses. Is Ducket sporting them today? Duckett’s shades were, curiously, resting on his cap.

81st over: New Zealand 324-7 (Jamieson 17, Phillips 64) The new ball is taken – time for England to get out of bouncer mode. Tongue will continue as Phillips welcomes the fresh cherry, clipping through midwicket for the shot of the morning with a lovely little flourish of the blade. Tongue responds by nipping it away from the outside edge.

80th over: New Zealand 318-7 (Jamieson 16, Phillips 59) Jamieson slaps Baker through the off-side, then makes room for a mighty smack … he edges away over Rew for four more. The big man is here to have fun as he launches to deep midwicket … and Ben Duckett, backpedalling, drops it! That should have been snaffled; Baker was already celebrating.

To make matters worse for the debutant, Phillips pulls away for another boundary, the third of the over. A very tidy start to the day for New Zealand. 79th over: New Zealand 305-7 (Jamieson 7, Phillips 55) It’s Josh Tongue to bound in from the Pavilion End – he goes short and Phillips offers no shot, the ball smashing into his belly button.

Ouch. England are going full bumper mode, with three men on the leg-side boundary, and midwicket just a few yards in front of the rope. And is Jamieson gone, gloving the ball high, with Rew collecting?

Nah, off the helmet. And a no ball, too. Jamieson will get checked out by the doc.

78th over: New Zealand 300-7 (Jamieson 6, Phillips 54) The sun has poked through at the Oval … as Baker goes short, the ball loose and swinging away to the ropes for byes. Short again with the next delivery – and Phillips gets something on it, top-edging as the ball flies over James Rew, evading the fingertips. And that’ll be his fifty too.

Baker, in the high-80s, continues to angle the ball into Phillips, who gets a single to keep the strike. Right then, it’ll be Sonny Baker to get us going, with Glenn Phillips on strike. Let’s play!

“New Zealand, if they don’t make it to 400, will be very, very disappointed on this deck,” says Mark Butcher on Sky. It’s up to Phillips to get them there, unbeaten on 49 and the leading run-scorer in the series after a couple of decent knocks at Lord’s. Mark Wood is on Sky’s broadcast, rocking some lime sunglasses.

Glenn Phillips got the shades on yesterday, too – while facing Jofra Archer’s bouncer show. It was a day Sonny Baker will never forget. Even this morning I could feel the anxiety build up in my stomach, I was trying to play cards on the bus to try and take my mind off the gravity of the situation.

Simon Burnton was focused on the old-new captain. Would we once again see the Root who led and often carried the team between 2017 and 2022, a new Root reshaped by four years spent working with Brendon McCullum? Or a Root who – as Stokes’s stand-in – felt obliged to attempt an impersonation?

Andy Bull kept a close eye on the unreadable Brendon McCullum yesterday. It’s increasingly hard to say what’s going on behind those shades. The man’s the Anna Wintour of the wicket.

Well, that was nice: a semi-normal day of Test cricket, wickets in single figures, enough there for the quicks, New Zealand’s batters able to get in … with only Glenn Phillips still on course to go big. Of course, this isn’t a normal Test at all for England, with three debutants in the mix alongside an interim captain. Sonny Baker got to show off his wheels yesterday, firing the ball in at the toes, highlighting his value on this stage after a couple of torrid white-ball appearances.

He’s still got work to do this morning, though; Joe Root may well turn to him to help wipe out the tail. And then, potentially, a glimpse at the new shiny toys at six and seven. It’s cloudy but dry in south London so we’ll get going at 11am BST (fingers crossed).

Join myself and James Wallace for all the fun.