1st ODI Eng v NZ

This is serving as a build-up for the ICC Champions Trophy 

New Zealand win by 5 wickets 

Nz 231/5 (47 overs)

FOW: WICKET Ronchi c Swann b Anderson 0 (NZ 1-1), 

WICKET Williamson c Buttler b Anderson 0 (NZ 1-2), Taylor c Buttler b Anderson 54 (NZ 121-3), WICKET Elliott b Swann 27 (NZ 168-4), 

B McCullum c Morgan b Dernbach 5 (168/5),  

 

New Zealand 231 for 5 (Guptill 103*, Taylor 54, Anderson 3-31) beat England 227 for 9 (Southee 3-37) by five wicketsMartin Guptill's Test career hangs in the balance but his one-day standing was given a huge lift as he produced a match-winning hundred to earn New Zealand their third win in three one-day internationals at Lord's. The last time Guptill faced England in an ODI he was also the hero - batting virtually on one leg in Hamilton - and he again looked free from the tentativeness that characterises his longer-form batting.

Guptill's eighth boundary, a pull off Tim Bresnan, took him to his third ODI hundred and secured the victory for New Zealand with 19 balls to spare. He also struck four sixes - the best a straight drive over long-on - but almost came up short of his ton when, with five needed, Jos Buttler let the ball through his legs for four byes the delivery after England reviewed for an lbw. Then, though, Bresnan dropped short, Guptill latched on and raised his arms in triumph.

 

What made the victory more impressive was that after five balls of the chase New Zealand were 1 for 2 following James Anderson's two sharp outswingers to remove Luke Ronchi and Kane Williamson. That type of start could easily have reopened wounds from the Test match here two weeks ago, when they crumbled to 68 all out chasing 239, but this time the response was a world away from that timid display, with Guptill and Ross Taylor adding the defining stand of the match worth 120 in 24 overs.

 

The batting of Guptill and Taylor proved that England's earlier difficulties as they lurched to 227 for 9 were largely self-inflicted. They were kept under wraps by losing wickets in batches through poor shot selection, with four of the batsmen fell between 30 and 36, and then an attacking lacking Stuart Broad (knee) and Steven Finn (shin) could not support the outstanding Anderson.

 

Jade Dernbach, a late addition to the squad, initially as cover from Bresnan, went for two boundaries in his first over and, although his third was a maiden, he frequently dropped short in his opening spell. Chris Woakes was especially unimpressive, conceding 45 in six overs, although things might have been different for him had Bresnan managed to get underneath Guptill's top-edged hook at fine leg. Instead, Bresnan was in from the boundary and could only palm the ball for six as he ran backwards.

 

It had been Taylor who first steadied New Zealand's nerves. He was quickly into double figures with three boundaries, latching on to width from Dernbach and the occasional overpitched delivery from Anderson. He also took a brace of boundaries off Woakes during a 71-ball half-century and it required Bresnan and Graeme Swann to bring some control, although New Zealand knew they did not have to force the pace.

It was Anderson, though, who gave England a lift when he returned to produce another exacting delivery to have Taylor caught behind but the batsmen had done enough to break the back of the chase. Grant Elliott, reprieved on 13 when he was given lbw to a Dernbach slower-ball yorker despite edging it, was rarely fluent but helped Guptill add 47 before Swann bowled him through the gate.

 

Brendon McCullum's dismissal, carving to deep cover, was lazy given the lack of pressure from run rate, but there was no unravelling from New Zealand with Guptill easing them across the line.

 

Both captains had wanted to bowl first on a cloudy morning; it was McCullum who got his wish. England, though, had appeared to have laid a decent foundation before the openers departed in consecutive overs from Tim Southee and then the middle order lost 3 for 9 in 17 balls after Jonathan Trott and Joe Root had set the base with a stand of 67. Nathan McCullum, who conceded just one boundary in his 10 overs, started the slide when Root was bowled reverse sweeping, a manner of dismissal later repeated by Buttler as any attempt to lift the scoring was stymied.

 

Somewhat surprisingly, considering his success here in the Test when he claimed ten wickets, Southee was not given the new ball but soon had an impact when brought on as first change from the Pavilion End - where he did most of the damage with the red ball. In the 11th over - Southee's third - Bell drove without sufficient footwork and gave wicketkeeper Ronchi his first catch as a New Zealand international.

 

In his next over, Southee struck again when Alastair Cook, like Bell, drove away from his body - much to the captain's frustration after he had been forced to fight hard against Mitchell McClenaghan's opening spell when the left-armer, who has not played since the one-day series in New Zealand, beat him four times in succession. Southee completed consecutive wicket maidens and ended his first spell with figure of 5-2-12-2.

 

Just when the work of Trott and Root appeared to have overcome those losses, the innings started to fall away. Root, who had been sparky at the crease, exposed his stumps with the reverse sweep against McCullum and then Trott, shaping to be the anchor for the innings as he so often is, picked out deep midwicket.

 

Eoin Morgan and Buttler, who are viewed as vital in the last 10 overs, therefore had twice that time to build their innings but neither found fluency. For Morgan it was just his second innings since returning from the IPL - his first was a golden duck against Yorkshire in the YB40 - and after a sweetly struck straight drive to get off the mark he put himself in a tangle against McClenaghan. The bowler noticed him advancing down the pitch, banged the ball in short and Morgan's attempt to abort his pull only resorted in a healthy top edge to the wicketkeeper. When Buttler fell in the Powerplay, England's last hope of a powerful finish went with him.

25 overs New Zealand 121 for 2 (Guptill 60*, Taylor 54*) need 108 more runs to beat England 227 for 9 

New Zealand recovered from the early shock of losing two wickets in the opening over of their chase to put themselves in an excellent position to claim the first one-day international. Martin Guptill and Ross Taylor added an unbeaten 119 for the third wicket as England's attack failed to back up the swift inroads made by James Anderson.

It was a dramatic start to the innings. Luke Ronchi, in his first innings for New Zealand, edged a full delivery to second slip where Graeme Swann took a sharp chance low to his left. 

Two balls later Kane Williamson was also on his way back after edging another outswinger and this time it was Jos Buttler, diving full length to his right, who clung on to leave New Zealand 1 for 2. 

That could easily have reopened the wounds from the Test match here when they crumbled to 68 all out in the second innings, but this time there was an aggressive response. 

It helped New Zealand's cause that, beyond Anderson, England's bowling with the new ball was wayward. Jade Dernbach, a late addition to the squad and only playing due to injuries to Stuart Broad and Steven Finn, went for two boundaries in his first over and, although his third was a maiden, he frequently dropped short in his opening spell.

Chris Woakes was especially unimpressive during an opening two-over spell which cost 21, although things might have been different for him had Tim Bresnan managed to get underneath Guptill's top-edged hook at fine leg. Instead, Bresnan was in from the boundary and could only palm the ball for six as he ran backwards.

It had been Taylor who first steadied New Zealand's nerves. He was quickly into double figures with three boundaries, latching onto width from Dernbach and the occasional overpitched delivery from Anderson. 

He also took a brace of boundaries off Woakes and it required Tim Bresnan and Graeme Swann to bring some control although New Zealand knew they did not have to force the pace.

 

Guptill reached his half-century first from 64 balls with a clip over midwicket off Woakes, who was again expensive on his return, and he was also taken for the boundary that gave Taylor his half-century from 71 deliveries. 

1. Cook	c Ronchi	b Southee	30
   Bell	c Ronchi	b Southee	18
   Trott	c Taylor	b N McCullum	37
   Root		b N McCullum	30
   Morgan	c Ronchi	b McClenaghan	6
   Buttler	c McClenaghan	b Williamson	14
   Woakes	c Guptill	b Mills	36
   Bresnan		b Southee	25
   Swann	c N McCullum	b McClenaghan	15
   Anderson	not out		5
   Extras		1nb 6w 4lb	11
   Total		for 9	227

FOW: Bell c Ronchi b Southee 18 (45/1), Cook c Ronchi b Southee 30 (50/2),
Root b McCullum 30 (117/3), Trott c Taylor b McCullum 37 (124/4),
Morgan c Ronchi b McClenaghan 6 (126/5),
Buttler c McClenaghan b Williamson 14 (159/6), Woakes c Guptil b Mills 36 (182/7), Bresnan b Southee 25 (216/8), Swann c McCullum b McClenaghan 15 (227/9)

Toss won by NZ bowling first

Innings break England 227 for 9 (Southee 3-37) v New Zealand 

New Zealand's previous attempt at a run chase at Lord's did not end well but their prospects are brighter in the first one-day international after restricting England to 227 for 9. Tim Southee, on the ground where he took ten wickets a couple of weeks ago, and Nathan McCullum - only playing because of the late absence of Daniel Vettori - were the pick of the attack as England slipped from a solid position at the midway mark.

England, who will have to defend the target without the injured Stuart Broad (knee) and Steven Finn (shins), were kept under wraps by losing wickets in batches through poor shot selection and four of the batsmen fell between 30 and 36. 

The openers departed in consecutive overs from Southee and then the middle order lost 3 for 9 in 17 balls after Jonathan Trott and Joe Root had set the base with a stand of 67. McCullum, who conceded just one boundary in his 10 overs, started the slide when Root was bowled reverse sweeping, a manner of dismissal later repeated by Jos Buttler as any attempt to lift the scoring was stymied.

Somewhat surprisingly, considering his success here in the Test, Southee was not given the new ball but soon had an impact when brought on as first change from the Pavilion End - where he did most of the damage with the red ball. 

Alastair Cook and Ian Bell had made steady progress on a morning that began cloudy but soon started to brighten. That changed in the 11th over - Southee's third - when Bell, who had previously collected two flowing boundaries off Southee, drove without sufficient footwork and gave wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi his first catch as a New Zealand international.

In his next over, Southee struck again when Cook, like Bell, drove away from his body - much to the captain's frustration after he had been forced to fight hard against Mitchell McClenaghan's opening spell when the left-armer, who has not played since the one-day series in New Zealand, beat him four times in succession. Southee completed consecutive wicket maidens and ended his first spell with figure of 5-2-12-2.

The manner in which Cook and Bell tried to see off the new ball is likely to be pattern for the next few weeks of ODI cricket, with two new balls adding additional threat for the quicks. After the loss of both openers in quick succession, another period of consolidation was required and in Trott and Root, the latter playing his first ODI on home soil, they had a pair of in-form batsmen for the job.

Progress remained at around the four-an-over mark, although there was the occasional sign that they were aiming to increase the tempo against James Franklin as they posted a fifty stand. Then, however, the innings started to fall away. Root, who had been sparky at the crease, exposed his stumps with the reverse sweep and then Trott, shaping to be the anchor for the innings as he so often is, picked out deep midwicket.

Eoin Morgan and Buttler, who are viewed as vital in the last 10 overs, therefore had twice that time to build their innings but neither found fluency. For Morgan it was just his second innings since returning from the IPL - his first was a golden duck against Yorkshire in the YB40 - and after a sweetly struck straight drive to get off the mark he put himself in a tangle against McClenaghan. 

The bowler noticed him advancing down the pitch, banged the ball in short and Morgan's attempt to abort his pull only resorted in a healthy top edge to the wicketkeeper.

Buttler and Chris Woakes added 39 in nine overs, aware that they could not afford to take any risks, and England were unable to exploit the Powerplay which brought just 19 runs. Brendon McCullum, sensing England's problems when pace was taken off the ball, gambled on Kane Williamson inside the fielding restrictions and the move worked when Buttler's reverse sweep picked out backward point.

Woakes equalled the most deliveries faced in the innings with 53 before carving to deep cover and although Tim Bresnan and Graeme Swann chipped in during the closing covers England, with their depleted attack, will have a tough task to defend the total.

25 overs England 104 for 2 (Trott 29*, Root 25*) v New Zealand

Tim Southee continued to excel at Lord's by removing both England openers after New Zealand bowled first in the opening ODI. Somewhat surprisingly, after his exploits in the Test series, he was not handed the new ball, but wasted little time in making an impression when he did come on by finding the edges of Ian Bell and Alastair Cook although England were handily placed on 104 for 2 at the midway mark.

The opening pair had made steady progress on a morning that began cloudy but soon started to brighten. But that changed in the 11th over - Southee's third - when Bell, who had previously collected two flowing boundaries off Southee, drove without sufficient footwork and gave Luke Ronchi his first catch as a New Zealand international.

 

In his next over, Southee struck again when Cook, like Bell, drove away from his body much to the captain's frustration after he had been forced to fight hard against Mitchell McClenaghan's opening spell when the left-armer, who has not played since the one-day series in New Zealand, beat him four times in succession. Southee completed consecutive wicket maidens and ended his first spell with figure of 5-2-12-2.

 

The manner in which Cook and Bell tried to see off the new ball is likely to be pattern for the next few weeks of ODI cricket with two new balls adding additional threat for the quicks. After the loss of both openers in quick succession, another period of consolidation was required and in Jonathan Trott and Joe Root, playing his first ODI on home soil, they had a pair of in-form batsmen for the job. 

 

Progress remained at around the four-an-over mark, although there was the occasional sign that they were aiming to increase the tempo against James Franklin as they posted a fifty stand. England have formulated a plan that has brought success at home, ensuring they have wickets in hand for the likes of Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler later on.

 

Both teams had been forced to alter their preferred XIs due to injury. Despite all indications 24 hours earlier that Daniel Vettori would make his international comeback he was ruled out after failing a fitness test on his troublesome Achilles.

 

England, meanwhile, will be without Stuart Broad and Steven Finn for the first two matches of the series due to a bruised knee and shin soreness respectively. Cook had alluded to "niggles" within the camp on Thursday but would not specific who they were. Broad hurt his knee taking a return catch off Brendon McCullum on the second innings at Headingley and Cook had spoken about the challenges of such a quick turnaround between the Tests and ODIs which could account for Finn's problems.

 

But Tim Bresnan has made the match despite his wife being close to giving birth in what is his first game for England since the end of January in India after which he underwent elbow surgery. Jade Dernbach, who was drafted in yesterday as cover for Bresnan, also gets a game but Ravi Bopara, who is part of the Champions Trophy squad, was left out.

England 1 Alastair Cook (capt), 2 Ian Bell, 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Joe Root, 5 Eoin Morgan, 6 Jos Buttler (wk), 7 Chris Woakes, 8 Tim Bresnan, 9 Graeme Swann, 10 James Anderson, 11 Jade Dernbach

New Zealand 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Luke Ronchi (wk), 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Grant Elliott, 6 Brendon McCullum (capt), 7 James Franklin, 8 Nathan McCullum, 9 Tim Southee, 10 Kyle Mills, 11 Mitchell McCleanaghan

One Off ODI Netherlands v SA

SA won toss & bat first

SA 341/3 50 overs / 50 overs

Netherlands: 257/9 (50 overs / 50 overs) 

South Africa win by 84 runs 

ICC Champions Trophy Warm-up Pak v SL (a-a)

MATCH ABANDONED next warm-ups are on Saturday see u then

ICC Champions Trophy! 6th-23rd June

DON'T MISS IT!

All reports here folks before I jet off to Spain!

Day 5 England v New Zealand + reaction

England 354 (Root 104, Bairstow 64, Boult 5-57) and 287 for 5 dec (Cook 130, Trott 76) beat New Zealand 174 (Swann 4-42) and 220 (Swann 6-90) by 247 runs

Alastair Cook could have been forgiven for scratching his head with confusion when he woke on Tuesday morning. With his team 1-0 up and sure of a series win, he might have expected some plaudits and praise. Instead, despite having come close to a three-day Test win against an opposition that had the better of the Test series in New Zealand only weeks ago, he found his tactics criticised and condemned.

Nothing illustrates how far this England team have come since New Zealand beat them in England in 1999 to sentence them to bottom place in the Test rankings. Success is not just expected from England now, it is demanded, and with style.

 

In the end, England won by 247 runs in almost exactly 10 sessions to wrap up a 2-0 series victory and largely vindicate their approach. Graeme Swann claimed a ten-wicket haul to emulate Derek Underwood, the last spinner to take ten wickets in a Test at Headingley back in 1972.

 

Only 11 overs were possible on the fifth morning in between the forecast rain. When play did start after a 45-minute hiatus, it did not take England long to remove the only remaining specialist batsman. For the fourth time in the series, Stuart Broad dismissed the New Zealand captain, this time clinging on to a sharp caught-and-bowled chance as Brendon McCullum mistimed a drive off the bottom of the bat. The dismissal meant McCullum scored only 31 runs in the series.

 

But the wicket came at a cost to England as Broad appeared to cut his knee diving for the catch - blood was visible through his trousers - and left the pitch for treatment shortly afterwards.

 

England might have had Tim Southee on 26, as he edged one from Swann that did not turn, but Jonathan Trott, at slip, could not hold on to the chance in his left hand. To rub salt in the wound, Southee slog-swept the next ball for six.

 

It was far from the only aggressive stroke he played. Despite a man waiting for the stroke on the midwicket boundary, Southee pulled Steven Finn's first ball for six and drove Broad for a thumping straight four. Doug Bracewell also pulled Finn for a six in an eighth-wicket stand of 56 in only 41 balls.

 

Swann made the second breakthrough with another delivery that slid on with the arm and again took the edge of Southee's bat. This time Trott clung on to another tricky chance by his left boot. It made Swann the first spinner to claim a five-wicket haul in a Test at Headingley since John Emburey did so in the Ashes of 1985.

 

But just five more deliveries were possible before the rain - for a while spitting - grew harder and the umpires led the players from the pitch for an early lunch. After a long delay, play resumed at 3pm. Just eight balls later Bracewell was given out to an inside edge but it was overruled using DRS, with replays showing the ball had deflected off the pad, not the bat. But, in Swann's next over, he had the same batsman smartly caught by Ian Bell at silly point off bat and pad. It gave Swann a ten-wicket haul for the third time in Test cricket and his first in England.

 

Neil Wagner and Trent Boult resisted for another eight scoreless overs but the return of James Anderson brought immediate rewards. With his third delivery, he drew Boult into a push that took the outside edge and carried to Matt Prior. It gave Anderson his 307th Test wicket to take him level with Fred Trueman's tally. Now only Sir Ian Botham and Bob Willis have more than Anderson for England.

 

The results means England go into the Ashes with four wins in their last eight Tests and unbeaten in that period. But they can take more than victory from this game. The re-emergence of Finn as a bowler of pace and hostility and proof that Swann has rediscovered his best form following elbow surgery means England go into the Ashes with a balanced, settled attack capable of troubling most line-ups on most surfaces.

 

There are one or two issues with the batting - the survival of Nick Compton at the top of the order will remain a debating point - but, with Kevin Pietersen back in the nets and Joe Root emerging as a fine player, England can feel pretty well prepared for the Ashes.

Their tactics in this match were questionable, however. Had they enforced the follow-on or declared their second innings earlier - even a lunch-time declaration on day four would have given them a vital extra half-hour - they might have secured victory without gambling on a break in the clouds. As it was, they endured a nervous day watching it drizzle and hoping to squeeze in any more play. Ultimately they required about 90 minutes play on the final day, into which they squeezed 22 overs.

 

Perhaps England betrayed some of their anxiety on the final morning. Andy Flower, the England coach, could be seen having an animated conversation with the groundsman minutes after the rain stopped. It would be unwise to try speculate in too much detail as to Flower's intentions, but it seems safe to assume he was making the point that, if the rain was only to relent for short periods, England needed play to resume as soon as possible. As tends to be the case, Flower got his way despite a counter-argument from his New Zealand counterpart, Mike Hesson.

In different circumstances, criticism might instead have been directed at Yorkshire rather than England. On most Test grounds in the UK, the floodlights could have been utilised for play to continue on the fourth day, but there are no floodlights at Headingley. It is also worth noting that, in a summer where every other Test will be all but a sell-out - even the Lord's Test against New Zealand - this match has been played, at times, in front of vast banks of empty seats. For all the rich history and fine atmosphere, the future of Test cricket in Yorkshire remains precarious.

England extend NZ dominance

This was the 23rd series win for England against New Zealand in 34 Test series played between them. New Zealand have won only three. Eight series have ended in draws. New Zealand have now lost their third consecutive Test series in England.

The 247-run margin of victory for England in this match was their biggest against New Zealand in terms of runs, not including innings-wins. England's biggest win against New Zealand at this ground, though, was back in 1965 when they won by an innings and 187 runs.

Tim Southee was Man-of-the-Series for New Zealand for the first time in his Test career, in his 17th series. Joe Root, England's Man-of-the-Series, won the award in just his third Test series.

Brendon McCullum took five catches in the first innings of this match; he now has collected five-or-more dismissals in an innings on four occasions, equalling Adam Parore's record by a New Zealand wicketkeeper. McCullum also became only the second New Zealand wicketkeeper-captain to take five catches in an innings after Ian Smith.

Alastair Cook hit his 25th Test century in England's second innings. As England captain, Cook has scored a century on all seven occasions that he has gone past fifty. Cook has taken 6.52 innings per century, the third-least by an England player. Only Herbert Sutcliffe (5.25) and Wally Hammond (6.36) took fewer Test innings per century for England, among batsmen with at least ten Test hundreds.

Graeme Swann's 10 for 132 in this match is the first ten-wicket haul by a spinner at Headingley in over 40 years. The last ten-wicket haul by a spinner in a Test at this ground was Derek Underwood's 10 for 82 against Australia in 1972.

Graeme Swann's five-wicket haul in New Zealand's second innings was his first against them. He has now taken 15 five-wicket hauls in Tests - only Derek Underwood has more five-wicket hauls by a spinner for England.

Trent Boult took 5 for 57 in the first innings, the second five-wicket haul of his career. His first five-wicket haul also came against England, at Auckland in March this year.

Trent Boult and Neil Wagner survived 48 balls in New Zealand's second innings without scoring a run before James Anderson broke their partnership by dismissing Boult. This is the longest, in terms of balls faced, a pair has batted without scoring a run in Tests.

Martin Guptill had played 30 Tests and scored 1714 runs before playing his first Test against England, in this match.

In England's second innings, Nick Compton laboured to seven runs from 44 balls before getting out to part-time spinner Kane Williamson. His strike rate in Tests, 34.68, is the lowest among England openers who have played at least 10 Test innings since 1990.

Boult doubtful for Champions Trophy

New Zealand's need to regroup after their Test defeat against England before the Champions Trophy has been made doubly difficult by the possibility that they will lose Trent Boult for the tournament because of injury.

Boult has carried the fight for New Zealand with 19 wickets at 25.47 in five Tests, home and away, against England, but his side strain is not responding to treatment and he will have a scan in London on Wednesday to assess the damage.

 

"He's not looking great," New Zealand's captain, Brendon McCullum, lamented. "He is still not moving that freely which is a shame because he's been a revelation for us this season."

Until a fateful Sunday at Lord's, New Zealand had pressed England all the way, but their capitulation for 68 in only 22.3 overs against Stuart Broad and James Anderson was an experience from which they never recovered.

 

"Right up until that point our self-belief was very high and that ripped our hearts out and just started to create some self-doubt among us, which is a horrible thing in this game," McCullum said. "That's what unfolded in this Test. We still had periods where we dominated but they didn't last long enough and the periods of England dominating seemed to last a lot longer.

 

"We saw in this Test match England flexing their muscles and us not being able to respond. It's incredibly disappointing. If you look back on the last five Test matches we've played some good cricket and taken some strides forward but it's fair to say this one was a step backwards."

McCullum has seen enough to favour England in the Ashes later this summer. "England are red-hot favourites at home, their ability to swing the Dukes ball is huge," he said. "Any team that plays at home is familiar with the surroundings."

 

There will be no overreaction to New Zealand's batting failures if McCullum gets his way. He insisted that he retained faith in the potential of the group that, until the past ten days, had begun to promise a brighter Test future.

 

"If you fast forward 18 months, we've got the makings of a very good cricket team," he said. "I'm a big fan of protecting the people who have performed for a period of time and that's what we've seen from this group of players. We've got the right mix and the right balance in this group and we need to keep improving as a team and smooth out some of our rough edges."

 

He dismissed suggestions that New Zealand, six down overnight, were caught on the hop when they did not bother with morning nets before the Test resumed under sullen Leeds skies. The forecast had left Leeds on the edge of a bank of heavy rain but it only suffered light drizzle and a delayed start and a couple of interruptions were not enough to halt England's charge to victory.

 

McCullum, one of the not-out batsmen overnight, fell early to a superb return catch by Stuart Broad, who dismissed him in all four innings in the series. After that, Tim Southee and Doug Bracewell chose to counterattack - Southee seems to know no other way - and then Neil Wagner and Boult sought to block. As rain was a constant threat, it seemed an idiosyncratic approach towards trying to save a Test.

 

New Zealand's emphasis now turns to the Champions Trophy. They have eight squad changes but the first player McCullum needs to consider when it comes to reintegration is himself. Having stepped in as wicketkeeper because of an injury to BJ Watling, he now has to decide whether to continue in the role or hand over the gloves to Luke Ronchi.

 

"I've always said I'd never have any regrets through my career and that doesn't change," he said.

 

"Obviously I wasn't as fluent as I would like to be, like when I was 21, and I wasn't able to contribute with the bat as much as I wanted, but it was a decision we made and I'll stand by it. It didn't affect my batting, I'd love to say it was an excuse for why I didn't get runs but I can't claim that.

 

"The keeping role is something we need to talk about in the next 24 hours before we start to nail down the one-day team. It's definitely up for discussion. Luke is definitely going to play as an opener. We need to work out what's comfortable for both of us and the team."

England must end insularity to become great

If England had indicated a greater arrogance born of their total control of the match, there would have been no need for today's weather-led nervousness

 

It was a tortured process but we got there in the end. A surprisingly generous weather God and two empathetic umpires saw the second Test match to a conclusion. From it came embarrassment for New Zealand and the satisfaction of a job extremely well done by England.

 

It was a close run thing and might easily have not worked out so well. The splendid umpires, Marais Erasmus and Steve Davis, of no-nonsense South African and Australian hue respectively, had kept the players at it through murky light on day four and annoying drizzle on the final day. Only clearly unfair conditions took them from the field of play.

 

There was much to admire in England's performance, not just here but at Lord's too. The hiccup a couple of months back in New Zealand has been sorted. England are firing much as they should and thus will worry the heck out of Michael Clarke and the boys, who had watched in Dunedin and Auckland and thought there were lines to breach.

 

Outside of Alastair Cook and Graeme Swann, who both played some sublime cricket, it was fresh faces that caught the eye. Joe Root for his original talent. Johnny Bairstow for his intent and Steve Finn for being a no frills old-fashioned fast bower when England needed just that. The balance in the attack is one of its strengths. That, and the way in which the bowlers sustain their attack on the stumps.

 

Afterwards, when asked about Jonathan Trott's indifference on Sunday afternoon - he scored 11 from 69 balls - Cook made reference to the "one percenters". His implication was not to dwell on minutia at a time of celebration but to recognise and learn. Fair call, let's do that for a moment.

 

The captain will now appreciate that there is more than one way to skin the cat. He might have enforced the follow-on on Sunday afternoon but, reasonably enough, he chose not to. He should have declared earlier that he did on Monday afternoon, to give himself the best chance of finishing the game before the predicted rains came. He would not wish to be a slave to the forecasters - Michael Fish put everyone off forever - but if they say it will rain in Yorkshire in May, they are probably right.

 

First the follow-on. Three good reasons persuaded Cook to bat again. Firstly, protection of his bowlers from burn out. Four man attacks and seven tests, six of which are back-to-back, mean careful player management. Secondly, modernism - the international captains of the moment love to squeeze every drop of hope from the opposition's portfolio of response.

 

Richie Benaud will not refer to a "declaration" in instances where the game is shut down by the batting side, rather he talks of "closure". And thirdly, ensuring further deterioration of the pitch by batting on it yourself while natural wear and tear takes its course and while the New Zealand bowlers run all over the bits that Swann aims at. There is a fourth reason and not such a good one.

 

We will come to it later.

 

There is no doubt that Steve Waugh's decision to enforce the follow-on at Calcutta in 2001 - a decision that famously backfired - changed the Australian approach. Waugh liked the term "mental disintegration" and applied it to his tactics as much as to vulnerable members of the opposition. Back then, the game was in thrall of the Australians and most captains followed their lead. Michael Vaughan was not one. He made Ricky Ponting's fine team follow-on at Trent Bridge in 2005, a brave move that worked out well in the end - though not without Shane Warne's Herculean effort to embarrass him.

	There should have been no need for Andy Flower's animated exhortations to the groundstaff, desperate appeals and pleading looks to the sky

The key is flexibility: repeat, there is more than one way to skin the cat. Cook opted for safety first and then a crushing of the enemy spirit. When interviewed on Monday evening Trott called it the natural course of the match, which is as he knows it but not necessarily how it must be.

 

The great sides have options and they create, even reinvent. Cook had bowlers who were fresh enough and who do not play another Test until July. It was a good time for him to see another place. Mind you, this is not an argument you would win with England's captain and fair enough. His team won the match by a mile and everyone had a good workout. The excellent quality of most of the cricket confirmed they are clear favourites for the Ashes. We can hardly quibble.

 

But "closure?" We can quibble with that. The perfect time might have been at lunch, with the lead at 429, though there was a case to allow Root and Bairstow such abandon. The time at which the two tyros - high, happy and unbeaten - had hurried the lead to 450 was the next time to pull out. The opportunity to outwit nature and New Zealand on the same day was spurned by this caution.

 

If this sounds pedantic, it is only to make a point. If England are to become the best team in the world and to play a brand of cricket that leaves some sort of legacy, they have to move out of insularity and into some rarified space. Witness the unambitious fields that were placed once the hardness had worn off the ball. The reason for setting a mammoth target is that it is not attainable and therefore aggressive plays are at your fingertips for the remainder of the match. Yet England had sweepers out, protecting the boundaries and, for a time to Ross Taylor, placed only one slip.

 

If England had shown greater urgency, had imposed themselves without apprehension, had indicated a greater arrogance born of their total control of the match, there would have been no need for today's weather-led nervousness. No need for Andy Flower's animated exhortations to the groundstaff; no need for desperate appeals to the umpires and pleading looks to the sky; no need to crank up the bowlers on a cold, damp day.

 

Maybe, in a reversal of Australia's Calcutta experience, the captain will be once bitten and now shy. Maybe the follow-on floodgates will open again, though more likely he will tell Trott to press on next time for in truth, Monday's declaration procrastination arose out of Trott's tardy fare on Sunday afternoon. There was an excuse for Nick Compton's go-slow - 7 from 45 balls - but not for Trott, who was chained by self-absorption.

 

Finally then to Compton: the fourth possible reason for not enforcing the follow-on. It is a worthy policy of both selectors and team management to back the ones they choose. It will go against their grain to leave Compton out at Nottingham against Australia so surely, here at Leeds in a match with only one winner, the opportunity to see if he might let go a bit, might break free of the tension that has engulfed him, was a temptation. It maybe that his painful inability to do so has made their decision easier. Of course, a good batsmen has not become a bad one in a fortnight. Somerset will have the benefit of his rehabilitation and which of us dare say it will not be complete in time for him to have another crack at the dream that must now haunt him.

 

Meanwhile, it's Root to open, Kevin Pietersen to return and Bairstow to stay at No. 6. Simple really.

 

Go Joe.

 

Cook, Flower claim tactics 'vindicated'

 

Alastair Cook and Andy Flower insisted their tactics had been "vindicated" after England won the second Test against New Zealand by 247 runs to clinch a 2-0 series victory.

 

While Cook admitted he endured some nervous moments waiting for the rain to clear, he also defended his decision not to enforce the follow-on and to delay his declaration until after lunch on day four. By then England had a lead of 467 and meteorologists were warning that the fifth day could be severely curtailed by rain.

 

So it proved, too, with only 45 minutes possible before lunch and play not resuming until 3pm. But it was long enough for England to claim the final four wickets they required to secure victory.

 

"The result definitely vindicates the decision," Cook said. "There is absolutely no doubt about that at all. To win by 250 runs is a good win and in just over three days cricket effectively, it is an outstanding performance. You are judged as a captain on results. In this game we have won by 250 runs.

 

"I would not say it was a sleepless night but we were praying for an opportunity to get enough time to go out there and win the game. Clearly, I woke up this morning and the first thing I did was look out the window. We knew rain was about but we thought there would be a few windows of opportunity."

While there was much to celebrate for England - the form and fitness of Graeme Swann, the hostility of Steven Finn and the batting of Joe Root and Cook - one or two areas of concern remain.

 

The form of Nick Compton, 39 runs in four innings this series, was a disappointment and debate over his position will continue. With Kevin Pietersen back in training and likely to return to the middle order for the Ashes, moving Root to open is one option that is sure to be discussed in the coming weeks.

 

Neither Cook nor Flower would commit to Compton's selection for the Ashes, but Cook did admit that changing such "an important position" ahead of such high-profile games would constitute "a risk".

 

"He's struggled in these few Tests, certainly," Flower added. "The Ashes is quite a long way away. Let's allow the dust to settle on this series. Then we'll chat about the line-up and the conditions and the opposition.

 

"He's got to go away, get back into form and score some heavy runs for Somerset. He goes back into a couple of one-day games. Hopefully the one-day games will be good for him. He can go out and enjoy hitting the ball. That will be the catalyst for him going into the first-class game feeling confident."

	"He's been really dedicated and disciplined in his rehabilitation and he seems in better physical condition than he has been for a while." Andy Flower on Graeme Swann

Flower, in particular, appeared to take exception to the line of questioning from some media following the game. Talking to the BBC, he said: "I thought it was a very good performance by our side. We won by over 200 runs. Cook scored another hundred.

 

He has 25 Test hundreds; more than Viv Richards or Greg Chappell. Swann is back in form and his elbow has come through surgery recently.

 

The two young Yorkshire guys have had a great game. Finn on a flat deck has bowled outstandingly well. Those are all things that I'd prefer to focus on than some of the negative things you mention."

 

But both Cook and Flower admitted there were some areas where England could have performed a little better. While Cook referred to criticism of Trott's sedate progress on the third evening, 11 in 69 balls despite England beginning their second innings with a lead of 180, as "nit-picking", Flower accepted that "he could have been more urgent".

 

"We had a great example of running between the wickets and the right sort of balance between defence and attack and urgency from the two young Yorkshire guys in the first innings," Flower said. "They batted beautifully. Trott could have learned a little from those two. But the following morning he put us in a great position to win the game."

 

Flower and Cook justified the decision not to enforce the follow-on, believing the wicket would only deteriorate as the match progressed. "We chose to bat again and get well ahead of them," Flower agreed. "We thought we would have enough time on a wearing pitch to take the last 10 wickets and that's how it proved."

 

The start of the final day was noticeable for Flower remonstrating with the groundstaff to remove the covers more quickly.

 

"I shouldn't be out there doing the officials' job," Flower said. "It wasn't raining so I'm not sure why the covers weren't being removed. I don't understand why it took so long to get the game started, regardless of the position that we were in. The officials have a responsibility to get the game going when conditions suit and it wasn't raining. The lack of activity was baffling."

 

But in general, Flower was in the mood to celebrate the encouraging performances of Swann and the two young local batsmen, Root and Jonny Bairstow.

 

"Swann bowled superbly in the first innings; the ball came out of his hand absolutely beautifully," Flower said. "I didn't actually think he bowled as well in the second innings. I don't think he was quite comfortable with the ball. But he still took 6 for 90 and turned the match our way. I'm very encouraged by the way he's bowling and very happy for him that his elbow has come through surgery as well as it has. He's been really dedicated and disciplined in the way he's rehabilitated his elbow and he seems in better physical condition than he has been for a while.

 

"Root looks an excellent cricketer. His decision making in the middle; his balance has been excellent so far. It was great to see him get a hundred on his home ground and it was nice to see the enthusiasm and passion the Yorkshire supporters showed Joe.

 

"It was also great to see Bairstow bat with him. I know how happy Jonny was for Joe to get that 100, which was really nice to see. They are both good young men. Very different characters. But hopefully they will both have very successful England careers."

Play began 1145

Nz 190/7 (McCullum c&b broad 1, 162/7)

(Southee c Trott b Swann 38 (218/8) 

Play resumed at 1500 BST after rain delay

WICKET Bracewell c Bell b Swann 19 (NZ 220-9)

TA Boult c †Prior b Anderson 0 (220)

ENGLAND WIN BY 247 RUNS & THE SERIES 2-0!

Stumps Day 4 Eng 354 & 287/5d v 174 & 158/6 NZ

NZ 158/6 (Target 468)

FOW: Fulton c Bell b Broad 5 (21/1), Williamson lbw b Swann 3 (40/2), Rutherford c Root b Swann 42 (65/3), Brownlie c Bell b Finn 25 (144/4), Guptill c Trott b Swann 3 (153/5),  Taylor b Swann 70 (154/6)

England know what's best for England

 

Too slow, too negative, too defensive, England are not interested in anyone else's opinion and know their own plans bring success

"Get on with it," shouted the angry cricket journalist. This was before play. But during play, at breaks, as people ate lunch or went about folding clothes, many people said the same thing. Why won't England get on with it? Or declare? Or both? And why didn't they enforce the follow-on yesterday? Why, why?

 

England have, as of yet, decided not to run their cricketing decisions through a committee of media and fans. The media and fans may have suggested that not enforcing the follow-on when you've only taken 43.4 overs to bowl a side out is a defensive option. Team England may suggest that they could see how flat the pitch was and that their best chance of bowling New Zealand out again would be a Graeme Swann fourth and fifth day attack.

 

The media and fans could point to the fact that England scored at 3.77-an-over when pushing for a declaration, which was only slightly quicker than their first innings total, and slower than New Zealand's first innings.

 

Team England could answer that this is their last Test before the Ashes, and they had a chance to get a couple of players back into form.

The media and fans might wonder if the added gate receipts of a fourth or fifth day could have persuaded England to bat on and on. Team England might ask which ECB employee would tell Andy Flower that he has to base his and Alastair Cook's decisions on financial concerns.

 

The media and fans will probably say that no matter what reasons you think 468 is a good total to chase, it's still 19 more runs than New Zealand have scored in the entire series. Team England will probably say better to be safe than sorry.

 

The media and fans have been looking at the weather updates for days wondering why England haven't rushed things along. Team England have never trusted two day forecasts.

England probably should have enforced the follow-on. Nick Compton and Jonathan Trott shouldn't have batted like Han Solo in carbonite and batting on beyond lunch was an odd decision, if you're being nice.

 

But Team England hasn't been overtaken by an alien life form. This is a conservative team. Replacing Andrew Strauss with Cook wasn't going to upset the careful, careful, softly, softly approach that once made England the No. 1 Test team on earth.

 

England weren't going to declare 300 in front, or 400 in front, they were going to bat until any total was notional. Not notional for people sitting in the press box, or on a couch, who seem to think every single declaration is too late, but notional for cricketers who understand how the pitch is playing. 468 for a team with batsmen as out of form as New Zealand is quite notional.

	England will continue to play the way that they believe is best for them and continue to make their own cricket decisions

But even with this mythical chase being set, England kept being conservative. Despite some variable bounce, Hamish Rutherford was given a deep point. A run-saving position when runs just couldn't have mattered less.

 

Yet England would say that Rutherford is a confidence batsman. And that statistically he scores the majority of his runs where they put their man. They were trying to drain his mojo but Rutherford still scored quicker than the England batsmen even with a sweeper out. His eventual wicket was to a bat-pad.

 

Later on, Brendon McCullum faced the penetrating spin of Joe Root. New Zealand had lost six wickets by this stage. They needed more than 300 runs to win. The over started with Cook having three men on the boundary. England would point out that McCullum is more likely to be caught by a deep set fielder than anyone in the circle as their statistical analysis can prove.

 

While some seem to see events like this as momentary lapse in judgment, it is really a deep seated ideology. It may not be one that is popular with fans, but it is one that this team truly believe in.

 

A running joke in this series is how attacking McCullum can be with his fields. His slips cordons are filled with bodies even when his team is not doing well. McCullum's field this morning often had as many catching fielders as some of those from Cook in the afternoon.

Drawing this Test will not be the end of the world for England. They've won the series. This Test means very little in the larger picture. Even if by ignoring weather forecasts they've not left themselves the 30 to 120 minutes they will probably need tomorrow, it's not a massive problem.

 

What a full day's rain might mean is that in future England slightly change their outlook to a more aggressive way of thinking the next time a similar match plays out.

 

What is more likely is that England win this series 2-0 and they continue to play the way that they believe is best for them. I would also assume that England will continue to make their own cricket decisions and not be swayed too much by the opinions of the media and fans.

	Confidence: Joe Root reverse swept Neil Wagner for a boundary © Getty Images Enlarge

Quarter-century of the day

 

With the aid of a fumble by the cover fielder, Alastair Cook moved further clear of England's other Test century-makers with his 25th hundred. Such are the high standards now expected of Cook, it had been noted that he had not been quite at the top of his game since his previous hundred in Dunedin but he was back to his best in this innings. During the course of his innings he went past 10,000 runs across all international formats with the promise of many more to come.

 

Youthful exuberance of the day

England's second innings prompted much discussion about tactics, but when Joe Root came to the middle he just got on with his job with the same smile he was worn for the whole match. He was quickly into one-day (or Twenty20) mode and showed, again, how he holds no fear at this level. Against Neil Wagner, still maintaining decent pace despite New Zealand's awful situation, Root calmly reverse swept the quick bowler through the vacant slip cordon for the most cheeky boundary of the match.

 

Brute of the day

 

Perhaps Steven Finn had just heard about Watford's failed attempt to reach the Premier League with defeat in the Play-Off final at Wembley because the delivery he produced to remove Dean Brownlie verged on unplayable.

 

There had been signs of some uneven bounce and when Finn banged in a short ball - although not quite a full-on bouncer - it reared towards Brownlie and followed him as he tried to sway out of the line. His instincts took over and he fended at it with his gloves, the ball lobbing up to provide gully with a simple catch. Hostile fast bowling.

 

Working over of the day

 

While Finn makes batsmen uncomfortable with pace and bounce, Graeme Swann does it with guile and deception. He had been all over Martin Guptill in the first innings - for his brief stay - and worked him over again second time around. He began by searching for the same gate that he spun through yesterday, but in the end it was the arm ball (or, as Swann would probably say, the one that didn't spin) which took Guptill's edge to slip. It has not been a happy Test return for him.

New Zealand 174 and 158 for 6 (Taylor 70, Swann 4-61) require another 310 runs to beat England 354 and 249 for 3 (Cook 130, Trott 76)

England will nervously draw back the curtains in their hotel rooms on day five in Leeds. Having earned themselves a dominant position against New Zealand they will feel only rain can thwart them as they look to clinch a 2-0 series victory.

 

For that reason there was, perhaps, a perverse pleasure for New Zealand as England extended their second innings beyond lunch on the fourth day. While New Zealand could have few realistic hopes of surpassing England's target - they would have to set a new world record to do so and on a pitch offering turn and variable bounce to the bowlers - the tactic did perhaps present New Zealand with enhanced prospects of a draw.

 

With rain forecast to curtail the final day of the Test, New Zealand may not need to survive three full sessions on the final day. So, as England plundered their bowling on the fourth day, New Zealand could, at least, take comfort in the thought that every ball they were forced to remain out in the field was a ball less they were required to survive with the bat.

 

England's tactics have taken some criticism. Some say they should have enforced the follow-on, some say they should have batted with greater urgency on the third evening and some say that, with an eye on the weather forecast, they should have declared far earlier. But the fact is that had bad light not brought an early close on day four, they might have won this game in three days (the first day was lost to rain). For many years, England supporters would have been delighted with such a scenario. It perhaps speaks volumes for the progress they have made that more is now demanded.

 

Bearing in mind New Zealand had only scored 449 runs in the series for the loss of 30 wickets, it did seem an abundantly cautious tactic. No side has ever made more than 418 to win a Test in the fourth innings and only four teams have ever made more than 400 to win in the fourth innings. New Zealand's highest chase is 324, made against Pakistan in Christchurch in 1994.

 

If New Zealand are saved by the weather on day five, they will also owe thanks to Ross Taylor who produced a fine counterattacking innings to shore up his side just as it appeared they might suffer a familiar collapse and the game could end a day early. Demonstrating an application and technique that his team-mates would do well to emulate, Taylor cut and drove well and, by playing deep in his crease or using his reach to stretch a long way forward, negated Graeme Swann for much of the afternoon.

 

He had some nervous moments. Not only did he take a thumping blow to the arm off the hostile bowling of Steven Finn, but he was given out by umpire Steve Davis on 60, caught behind off Swann by one that went on with the arm. The decision was subsequently overturned on appeal with replays showing the bat had brushed only the pad.

 

Taylor apart, though, New Zealand struggled once again. Peter Fulton's miserable series - 36 runs at an average of 9.00 - ended when a delivery from Stuart Broad reared from just back of a good length, took the shoulder of the bat and looped to gully and, later, Dean Brownlie's stubborn innings was ended by a brute of a bouncer from Finn that followed the batsman and took his glove as he sought to protect his face. It was a delivery of which Curtly Ambrose would have been proud.

 

In between Finn's wickets, Swann struck twice. In his second over, Kane Williamson, moving right across his stumps in an attempt to get outside the line, was beaten by some sharp turn and given out leg before by Davis. Williamson called for a review but replays suggested the ball had hit him in line and would have just clipped the top of leg stump.

 

Hamish Rutherford impressed for a while. He drove a couple of sweetly-timed fours off Broad - first off front and then back foot - before punching one back past Finn and then flicking Swann through midwicket for another four. But in attempting to play one that slid on with the arm, Rutherford was caught at short-leg via an inside edge and his pad by the alert Joe Root.

 

Later, Swann had Martin Guptill edging one that did not turn, caught at slip off the outside edge, before Taylor's fine innings was ended by a full delivery that may well have deceived the batsman in the flight, beat his drive, turned and hit the stumps. Swann became the first spinner to take eight wickets in a Headingley Test since Derek Underwood did so in 1972.

 

Earlier England sentenced New Zealand to a morning of misery as they increased their lead well beyond 400. Upping the tempo noticeably after a ponderous end to the third day, England scored 133 runs in 29 overs (4.59 runs an over) in the session taking full toll of a New Zealand attack lacking the injured Trent Boult.

 

Alastair Cook, who resumed on his overnight score of 88, soon completed his 25th Test century and seventh in 11 Tests as captain. Fluent on the drive, quick to cut and merciless off his legs, Cook added 134 in 41 overs with Jonathan Trott. No England player has scored more Test centuries than Cook and only Graham Gooch, with 11 in 34 Tests, Peter May, with 10 in 41, Andrew Strauss and Michael Vaughan, with nine each in 50 and 51 Tests respectively, and Mike Atherton, with eight in 54, have scored more as captain. Trott's acceleration was more noticeable.

 

 It had taken him 69 deliveries to score his first 11 runs on day three, but on the fourth morning he allowed himself to take more risks and was dropped on 40 when reverse-sweeping Kane Williamson. Later he whipped Tim Southee through midwicket and reverse-swept another four off the part-time spin of Martin Guptill. In all Trott scored 65 runs from 93 balls in the session but fell second ball after lunch chasing a wide one.

 

Cook eventually fell as he attempted to hit the off-spin of Williamson over the top, while Ian Bell fell in similarly selfless fashion as he mis-hit a slog-sweep. But it hardly mattered. Joe Root produced an outrageous reverse-sweep off the pace of Wagner that flew to the boundary and hit three fours in his first 13 balls before falling in the race to set-up the declaration.

 

There was further good news for England on day four as Kevin Pietersen returned to the nets, beginning his comeback from a knee injury.

Tea New Zealand 174 and 68 for 3 (Taylor 9*, Brownlie 3*) require another 400 runs to beat England 354 and 249 for 3 (Cook 130, Trott 76)

England tightened their grip on the second Test on the fourth afternoon in Leeds. After declaring six overs after lunch, England had taken three wickets before tea and remain overwhelming favourites to clinch victory if the weather holds for long enough. But the forecast for the fifth day is far from good and does offer some hope for New Zealand.

England's declaration set New Zealand a most unlikely 468 to win. Bearing in mind New Zealand had only scored 449 runs in the series for the loss of 30 wickets, it did seem an abundantly cautious tactic. No side has ever made more than 418 to win a Test in the fourth innings and only four teams have ever made more than 400 to win in the fourth innings. New Zealand's highest chase is 324, made against Pakistan in Christchurch in 1994.

 

With the pitch offering variable bounce and increasing amounts of turn, survival will be far from straightforward for New Zealand if the weather does not intervene. Peter Fulton's miserable series - 36 runs at an average of 9.00 - ended when a delivery from Stuart Broad reared from just back of a good length, took the shoulder of the bat and looped to gully.

 

Graeme Swann then struck in his second over. Kane Williamson, moving right across his stumps and playing into the leg side, was beaten by some sharp turn and given out leg before by umpire Steve Davis. Williamson called for a review but replays suggested the ball would have just clipped the top of leg stump.

 

Hamish Rutherford impressed for a while. He hit a couple of sweetly-timed driven fours off Broad - first off front and then back foot - before punching one back past Steven Finn and then flicking Swann through midwicket for another four. But in attempting to play one that slid on with the arm, Rutherford was caught at short-leg via an inside edge and his pad by the alert Joe Root.

 

Earlier England sentenced New Zealand to a morning of misery as they increased their lead well beyond 400. Upping the tempo noticeably after a ponderous end to the third day, England scored 133 runs in 29 overs (4.59 runs an over) in the session taking full toll of a New Zealand attack lacking the injured Trent Boult.

 

Alastair Cook, who resumed on his overnight score of 88, soon completed his 25th Test century and seventh in 11 Tests as captain. Fluent on the drive, quick to cut and merciless off his legs, Cook added 134 in 41 overs with Jonathan Trott. No England player has scored more Test centuries than Cook and only Graham Gooch, with 11 in 34 Tests, Peter May, with 10 in 41 , Andrew Strauss and Michael Vaughan, with nine each in 50 and 51 Tests respectively, and Mike Atherton, with eight in 54, have scored more as captain.

 

Trott's acceleration was more noticeable. It had taken him 69 deliveries to score his first 11 runs on day three, but on the fourth morning he allowed himself to take more risks and was dropped on 40 when reverse-sweeping Kane Williamson. Later he whipped Tim Southee through midwicket and reverse-swept another four off the part-time spin of Martin Guptill. In all Trott scored 65 runs from 93 balls in the session but fell second ball after lunch chasing a wide one.

 

Cook eventually fell as he attempted to hit the off-spin of Williamson over the top, while Ian Bell fell in similarly selfless fashion as he mis-hit a slog-sweep. But it hardly mattered. Joe Root produced an outrageous reverse-sweep off the pace of Wagner that flew to the boundary and hit three fours in his first 13 balls before falling in the race to set-up the declaration.

 

There was further good news for England on day four as Kevin Pietersen returned to the nets, beginning his comeback from a knee injury.

England 287/5 dec in 2nd innings (lead by 467 runs)

FOW: Cook c Southee b Williamson 130 (206/2), Bell c Guptill b Williamson 6 (214/3), 
 Trott c †McCullum b Wagner 76 (249/4), Root c Guptill b Wagner 28 (268/5).

Lunch England 354 and 249 for 3 (Trott 76*, Root 20*) lead New Zealand 174 by 429 runs

England sentenced New Zealand to a morning of misery at Headingley as they increased their lead well beyond 400 and set-up a declaration on the fourth afternoon in Leeds.

Upping the tempo noticeably after a ponderous end to the third day, England scored 133 runs in 29 overs at 4.59 runs an over in the session taking full toll of a New Zealand attack lacking the injured Trent Boult. By lunch their lead was 429.

 

No side has ever made more than 418 to win a Test in the fourth innings and only four teams have ever made more than 400 to win in the fourth innings. England may also have one eye on the weather forecast which suggests play could be severely curtailed by rain on day five.

 

Alastair Cook, who resumed on his overnight score of 88, soon completed his 25th Test century and seventh in 11 Tests as captain. Fluent on the drive, quick to cut and merciless off his legs, Cook added 134 in 41 overs with Jonathan Trott.

No England player has scored more Test centuries than Cook and only Graham Gooch, with 11 in 34 Tests, Peter May, with 10 in 41, Andrew Strauss and Michael Vaughan, with nine each in 50 and 51 Tests respectively, and Mike Atherton, with eight in 54, have scored more as captain.

 

Trott's acceleration was more noticeable. It had taken him 69 deliveries to score his first 11 runs on day three, but on the fourth morning he allowed himself to take more risks and soon drove Neil Wagner square for four and ran a Doug Bracewell delivery to third man for four more. Trott was dropped on 40 when, reverse sweeping the off-spin of Kane Williamson, the ball passed through the hands of first slip on its way to the boundary. Later he whipped Tim Southee through midwicket and reverse-swept another four off the part-time spin of Martin Guptill. In all Trott scored 65 runs from 93 balls in the session.

 

Cook eventually fell as he attempted to hit Kane Williamson's off-spin over the top, while Ian Bell fell in similarly selfless fashion as he mis-hit a slog-sweep. But it hardly mattered. Joe Root produced an outrageous reverse-paddle off the pace of Wagner that flew to the boundary and hit three fours in his first 13 balls.