England v New Zealand Test Series 2026

[sussexpob]

Meanwhile, England trying to mimick their opponents with Smith up to the stumps. Sadly, he isn't the same level of keeper as a Carey or his kiwi counterpart, so the first ball that comes past the edge smacks into his helmet. I don't like this tactic for England, to keep to fast-medium pace up at the stumps you need to be world-class, and Smith is not that.

[andy]

Take away Ben Foakes we probably haven't got another wicket keeper capable of doing the stand up to stumps to seamers role unfortunately...Rew's glovework needs work and Cox dosent keep for Essex so dosent get to practice regularly

[sussexpob]

Stokes currently going through a mammoth spell. Flashbacks of Lords last year .... where he bowled admirably, but ended up bowling himself to an injury.

Come on Ben. No one is questioning your work ethic for the cause, throw the ball to one of your troops before you bugger up a knee again.

[andy]

Maybe he thinks he's bowling to keep himself mccullum and key in a job?

I agree though enough is enough no one wants to see him injured again

[sussexpob]

Last ball of Tongue's over is one of those you just pray to the man upstairs it misses everything. That hand grenades of the pitch after a period where the pitch looked to be calming down. Totally unplayable

[sussexpob]

Josh Tongue has had a miserable couple of games in the last week or so. In fairness to him, I think he has bowled a tad better than the figures suggest, and has had a few important catches go down behind the stumps, but he has also lacked any real bite. Seems to have reverted to very negative bowling to keep runs down, or getting clonked going searching to aggressively.

Also looks very tired.

Very surprised we have had no spin yet. Stokes has spent all game trying to encourage Bashir for every small thing he does right, and he even went crazy at Archer in the first innings when Archer went to grab a drink instead of run over to Bashir after his first wicket..... but if he wants to encourage him, give him the ball on a day 4 dry pitch.

[sussexpob]

Kick in the balls for Atkinson. Edge falls short...

[sussexpob]

Kick in the balls for Atkinson. Edge falls short...

Same for Tongue... England at least starting to generate chances.

[sussexpob]

Very surprised we have had no spin yet.

Bashir on, Bashir wicket... Ravindra falls for 94!

Mitchell Santner will be taking note of that ball. That has turned a lot.

[sussexpob]

Tricky scenario now..England can make any run rate academic, old ball looks ok with the odd one that flies.Normal batting will leave about 350 at tea and four sessions. Thrash and you could end up 300 I front all out. I'd imagine they will push the lead to 300-320 and then unleash, declare at tea.

But the temptation is there to bat as long a possible. Because england don't tend to bat long even when they make 400

[Arthur Crabtree]

But days 2&3 both featured collapses in the morning sessions, so maybe we'll see the same
tomorrow.

On the other hand, NZ lost 0 and 1 wicket in the morning sessions on days 1&4!

[Arthur Crabtree]

Again, when a wicket falls, it turns into a mini collapse.

[sussexpob]

Can't understand NZs approach here. Batting time out the game and not really going anywhere. Maybe this would make sense if the plan was to leave England a huge amount of runs in no overs, knowing they wouldn't help themselves to go for it....

But there is 135 overs left. Even if NZ bat another session England can smash 300 in 50 overs if they get in the groove.

[sussexpob]

ECB have just posted to Social Media that Ben Stokes will retire after this game

[Arthur Crabtree]

Really odd he should announce his retirement and then say he wants everyone to forget about it and get on with the game.

Unless there's some kind of scoop on the way.

Anyway, best wishes to Gentle Ben...