New Zealand v England 2019

A crushing innings and 65 runs defeat....oh dear not the perfect start in Tests under Chris Silverwood probably wanted. We now have to pick ourselves up off the floor and find that magic winning formula that we had to win the World Cup in thr summer and transfer it to the Test Arena, but I am wondering if we are trying too hard and the players are not relaxed enough to go out there enjoy their cricket. Yet you look at India and you must wonder how the hell they make it look all so easy.

It's the 2nd test tonight from the Bay Oval Hamilton.

Ollie Pope replaces an injured Jos Buttler behind the stumps (no Bairstow, no Faulks). Will Zak Crawley and Chris Woakes returning to the team.

England won the toss and decided to bowl first.

It's a strange decison not to play a spinner, although the recalled Woakes has got a wicket in the morning session. Part-time spinner Root has bowled an over already, making the decison look even stranger. But Pope looks the part behind the stumps, so it looks like England won't have any problem there.

New Zealand compiling another big score. At 191/5 it looked good for England, but a big stand for the 6th wicket has taken the score above 300.

New Zealand 375 all out. It looked a lot worse for England at 315/5.

21 overs remaining on the 2nd day for England to bat.

England 1 down already and lucky not to be two down.

Sibley out lbw for 4.
Burns dropped at slip.

And now Denly gone.

Going from bad to worse for England.

England make 476 with Root making 226, a lead of 101. After being 24/2 the innings reached the heights of 455/5, before subsiding to 476 all out.

Weather Forecast favourable I hope, but I have sneaking suspicion the result may not be so favourable, but we shall see. We have a lead to build on, but we need to be above 350 to have any chance of a win. Good to see Burns making a double century That should stand him in good stead in nailing down a more solid automatic place for next summer and for the tour to South Africa.

^ FACT CHECK

Weather forecast is rain for much of the last day

England lead was 101 as WHB said

Root got a double century not Burns

Other than that your post was perfect

350 would be more than enough I would say Root has had to endure a pretty torrent summer this year with losing the Ashes series and has shown/answered his critics with a batting display that probably has to send a message to the rest of the team that you have to back each other up and get runs & bat all the way down the order. I would say that if rain is forecast for the last day then England have to make serious in roads on Day 4 to try and get as many wickets down before the final day. Let's just hope the forecast is wrong!!