Just watched a cricinfo preview of the test match. Brendon McCullum suggests that pitch might be flatter than what people are expecting.

Also there could well be a significant amount of rain on 4th and 5th days.

Why are they playing tests in what is their autumn? Is March England's September?

Pretty much, yeah. Not as wet as our autumns but definitely wetter than the a NZ summer.

Why are they playing tests in what is their autumn? Is March England's September?
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Coz we actually have good weather here in NZ

Yes that is a fair point, Jono.

Right, here we go. NZ to bowl first. Pitch looks pretty flat though. Should be a good test match

Compton back to his normal scoring rate..

Trott

Its a 5 day test, boys, a 5 day test. The IPL starts soon so all is not lost

Loved Ian Smith and Bumble taking the p.ish out of the Aussies for at least 20 minutes

I love watching Trott play. Couldn't care less about his strike rate or 'dull' style of play. Would have him in my team any day of the week.

Well said, TrueBlue

50 for Compton

The pitch is an absolute belter. Suits England to the ground.

Rain in the forecast for 4th and 5th days so need to rack up a big score and only bat once if we're going to be able to win this test.

Compton is playing quite a strange innings here. Took an age to get going, then starting smacking the ball around and got to his fifty, and now looks tentative and his strike has dropped quite a lot.

great start boys lets get 500 tomorrow and then exert some pressure. would be nice to see a KP innings

modest start. Let's face it, of the batsmen only KP has the ability to kick on. If he does the scorers will need to sharpen their pencils.

Cook: well McCullum's pre match psyche worked and the skipper didn't last long.
Comps: congrats on the ton but he needs to kick on. Scoring 100 off 230 balls is only doing half the job
Trott: big score in the offing. Let's hope he can pick up the run rate
KP: Could be 100 before lunch!

I wonder whether McCullum will sleep tonight. Maybe the "we'll bowl first" quote was another attempt to psyche out Cooky. Maybe the Kiwis fancied a day in the field.

England should reach at least 500 tomorrow. The trouble is it will probably be around stumps. It would be good to give NZ 1 hour to bat facing 550-600 and hopefully dislodge a few late on. Here's hoping...

What's the weather forecast for the next few days? England should roll to victory at some point on day 4

Yeah you gotta love Trotty. I still have a grin at the 4 he scored in the Indian series. Where the spinner lost control of the ball and it landed at short midwicket.. Trott came out of his crease and wacked it for 4.

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Nawty Neon

Good first day from England on what looks like another flat pitch. fair play to Compton with another hundred but you have to ask, what are we really learning about him on this tour. fair play you can only score runs against the team in front of you, but back to back hundreds on flat roads against a fairly ordinary attack does not tell us much about his chances against OZ this summer. Good innings none the less from him and Trott.

England's problem is they bat too slowly. New Zealand's problem is that we decided to bowl first
Hoping for some early wickets!!

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With Pieterson in now, folowed by Bell, Root & Prior, we could reach 450-500 by tea or just after, Englands bowlers have only bowled once in this series compared to 3 times by New Zealand, they will be fresh and ready , with a score behind them the pressure with be on the N Z batsmen, interesting day ahead !

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At least with Compton Neon we can claim he learnt his cricket in this country, clutching at straws i know but it's something. Also being the Grandson of the great Dennis i think we can claim rights to him........i think !