It was a dreadful, fun sapping pitch but at least we got the result. I stayed up longer than I should on the last day. I'll give the shortened ones a miss. They're only good for a day out with the lads. I like watching the tests in NZ, it all looks so pretty, serene and uncrowded. Like cricket played in the old days.

Oh no it doesn't. Cricket went irretrievably downhill when the distinction between gentlemen and players was abolished.

Never been the same after ladies introduced overarm bowling in the 19th century

Well I suppose so. But allowing ladies into the MCC was surely worse.

Bit of a slow start to the first Test, by all accounts. 160/4 for a day's play (admittedly shortened by 10 overs for weather, but even so...)

The winter series in NZ didn't produce a Test win for either side; I wonder if we're in for another pair of drawn Tests in the return leg?

Very dull mornings play. Was looking for a decent stream but could only find ones that were constantly interrupted by ads needing clicking on. Ended up re-subscribing to willow.tv (which shows it in excellent HD now!)

One hopes not - that was one of those "days for the purists". Martin was tidy, but those figures (24-11-37-1) were a bit flattering, as TMS were saying there were a few bad balls that were not put away. Outfield was unusually slow.

I'd expect Bairstow / Prior / Swann to move the game on a tad faster, batting wise. Don't know about the forecast, but I think this will be a result test, one way or t t'other.

England's team has become decidedly pedestrian and soft with the inclusion of Compton, Root and Bairstow. I still miss Freddie.

Bairstow can give it "full dose" and did so vs Durham.Whether he can do so against this attack on another pudding of a pitch remains to be seen.

Do you miss the Fredster's Jesus Christ Pose as well ?

232 all out. Lets see how these plucky little Kiwis manage with a swinging ball. Oops thats one down.

Bravo. Three hundred test wickets for Anderson.

Well bowled that man.

Taylor is starting to make a mockery of both England's approach and their total

Well, lets hope we can get back at them in this final session.

Hmmm. I've only got a text commentary here, but it looks as though this might be getting interesting. Four down, 40 minutes or so of play remaining today. Getting rid of McCullum before stumps would alter the balance of power, I feel.

You know you can get TMS for this series ?