CLOSE Confirmation finally arrives that the day is done. A frustrating one, admittedly, but a good one for England. They met predictably stern resistance from Vettori and the New Zealand tail, while Strauss and Cook looked relatively comfortable in reply. But with tomorrow's forecast making today's weather look marvellous, there might just be insufficient time for anyone to force a result here.
BAILING OUT Bucknor removes the bails from the stumps, which surely means the end of the day's play.
MILLING Still no news. Surely play is done for the day, but we still wait for official word from the umpires who are still milling around in the middle. The fans have voted with their feet anyway; it looks like a county crowd.
TIME TO LEAVE The stands are starting to empty at Lord's and, although there's still no official confirmation that play is done for the day, it's probably safe to say that this leave is better judged than Vettori's. Bucknor's still holding up his light meter like a bloke in a pub trying to get some signal on his mobile.
PAD OUT On the England balcony, Vaughan unstraps his pads and makes himself comfortable. Probably not a sign of impending play, unless it's a brazen show of confidence in his openers.
BAD LIGHT Not for the first time, the umpires are milling about in the middle of the field studying their gadgets while the spectators retire to the bars.
Over 57 Martin 1-0-0 68-0 - Whatever England do when the light is offered, the batsmen are showing the right approach in the middle. Cook blocks into the covers for another smart single. Bucknor has his meter out again, checking it pretty much every ball here. I sense the offer of the light is not too far away. Sure enough, he approaches Taufel, they turn to Strauss, and he turns on his heel. More boos from an understandably frustrated Lord's crowd. Still, right or wrong about the decision here from England's openers, they've batted pretty well. Cook especially.
Over 56 Oram 0-0-0-1-0-1 67-0 - Strauss helps himself to another simple single on the legside, before Bucknor gets his light meter out again. Boos from the crowd turn to cheers as he pops it back in his pocket without speaking to the players. Cook adds another quick single and England are going along nicely here. They ought to stop out there regardless - we'll lose more time tomorrow and if England are serious about winning this game they should take every available opportunity to pick up some runs.
Over 55 Martin 0-4-0-0-0-0 65-0 - Slice of luck for Cook, and frustration for Martin. A genuine edge from the left-hander flies to third slip at a nice catchable height. Unfortunately for the Kiwis, there's no fielder there to catch it and Cook gets four.
Over 54 Oram 0-0-0-1-0-0 61-0 - More good cricket from these two batsmen, scampering through for a single after Cook defends to mid-off. Oram, back over the wicket to Strauss, then gets one past the outside edge after running down the slope.
Over 53 Martin 4-0-0-0-0-0 60-0 - England have doubled their score in the last four overs, so Vettori is forced to make a change. Martin comes back, and immediately serves up a gentle half-tracker that Strauss pulls dismissively to the square-leg fence. He comes back well, though, beating Strauss with one that just holds its line off the pitch. Bad start to the over, good finish.
Over 52 Oram 2-0-0-0-4-1 56-0 - Runs starting to flow now, and Strauss' clip through midwicket earns two runs and brings up the 50 partnership for the opening wicket. Oram decides to come round the wicket, prompting Strauss to have the sightscreens in front of the Pavilion moved as he retakes his guard. The change of angle does little for the bowler, who overpitches and gets crunched through square-cover for four by Strauss. Not perfectly to the pitch, but his weight transfer and head position were good. He works the final ball of the over to leg for a single as Oram howls in frustration.
Over 51 Southee 4-4-4-0-1-1lb 49-0 - Nice bit of timing here from Cook, who must have a pretty decent bit of willow in his hand. It's nothing but a defensive push, but the ball races through backward-point for four. The next ball is straighter and again races out of the middle of Cook's bat and away through square-leg for another boundary. Cook, growing weary of boundaries, then forces through the covers off the back foot for an all-run four as Vettori gives chase. He's blowing a bit as he jogs back to mid-off after his ultimately pointless exertion. A nudge to leg gets Cook a single, and he's raced up to 36 not out here. A leg-bye from the final ball completes a highly satisfactory over for England.
Over 50 Oram 0-0-0-0-3-0 35-0 - Oram beats Cook outside the off stump, and also squares him up two balls later. This time, though, Cook gets a thick but soft-handed edge wide of gully for three runs. Oram guilty of just bowling a fraction short of the ideal length on this deck in these conditions.
Over 49 Southee 1-3-0-0-0-0 32-0 - Good cricket from Strauss, dropping the ball into the covers and scurrying through for a single to rotate the strike. Cook then pulls over midwicket without quite properly timing the ball but still gets three for it.
Over 48 Oram 1-0-0-1-0-0 28-0 - Bowling change first up here, with Oram into the attack. Cook works to leg and calls Strauss through for a single. He hadn't counted on How making a superb diving stop at square-leg, but his throw is off-target and Strauss made it anyway. Strauss adds another, somewhat safer, legside single three balls later.
THUMBS UP Bucknor gives it two thumbs-up after his latest meter reading, so play should resume soon enough. Taufel, meanwhile, explains the umpires' thinking. Consistency is the watchword from the Aussie umpire, pointing out that they set the benchmark for the game with the reading they take when they first deem the light unsuitable. Interestingly, given the number of mails we've had about floodlights, Taufel doesn't rate them in Test cricket: "With the red ball, they don't actually extend play that long." He also confirms that, light permitting, we'll for through to 7.00pm this evening. That, I'd contend, is unlikely but at least they're trying.
LIGHT UP Actually, wouldn't a masochist quite enjoy the queuing? Huh. Some activity on the outfield now, as Bucknor returns to the middle with the light meter that seems to be almost an extension of his body.
HOVER CRAFT The hover cover is off, but there's still no imminent prospect of play, I'm afraid. Meanwhile, those of you who want to watch tomorrow's rain in person will be thrilled to know there are 1500 tickets available from 9am tomorrow morning priced £60 and £65. Get there early to ensure you get in the queue ahead of your fellow masochists.
RABBIT, RABBIT Joe Harrison has a solution that doesn't involve artificial lighting: eat more carrots. I thought we'd managed to steer the conversation away from food after doughnutgate, but no such luck.
COVERING UP Well we've had plenty of emails about floodlights, giving the paying public some cricket regardless of some dodgy light. Well they certainly are keen to get some floodlights installed here at Lord's at some stage, but even then it's a bit of a tricky one in Tests. There are times - especially with the red ball - that even with floodlights it's still a problem. Floodlights have been used in Test cricket, but there have also been several series where the two captains and the umpires have agreed not to use artificial lighting because it doesn't actually help that much. Anyway, that's all irrelevant at this precise moment because the hover cover is coming out and the pitch is covered as a few spots of rain start to fall. Which does, of course, only add to everyone's annoyance that we didn't get more play in when it was dry but dark.
LIGHT RELIEF Plenty of frustration about the hokey-cokey nature of that session. Tricky for the umpires, because once they've set a benchmark for the light they have to stick to it. Sir Ian Botham's been leading the calls for common sense to apply in situations like today. It is undoubtedly frustrating when the light is basically not great all day and a slight change takes the players off for 20 minutes then back on for 20 minutes. That frustration is even greater when the batsmen are progressing as comfortably as the England openers. As always, let us know your thoughts via the FEEDBACK icon.
TEA Well at least we're not eating into the game here, as the umpires have decided to take Tea at this latest interruption. An infuriatingly bitty session with the players constantly on and off through bad light. When the cloud lifted sufficiently for play to continue, Sidebottom picked up two more wickets before Cook and Strauss guided England through to 25-0 without major alarm.
BAD LIGHT However serene England's progress may be, the umpires are still unhappy with the light and take the players off the field. Again.
Over 47 Southee 0-0-0-0-0-0 25-0 - Southee gets his first bowl of the day, and is worked into the legside for a single by Cook. Southee, by the way, is the third youngest Kiwi to play in a Lord's Test. And he starts well enough here, just a single coming from an accurate opening over. Not too much movement for the New Zealand bowlers, though, and England's progress has been serene if unspectacular.
Over 46 Martin 0-1-0-0-0-0 25-0 - Cook blocks Martin to extra-cover, and gets a single. Strauss plays out the over safely enough, but the umpires are still concerned about the light. They have a lengthy chat at the end of the over, but decide not to offer the light much to the delight of the big crowd inside Lord's.
Over 45 Mills 1nb-0-0-0-1-0-0 24-0 - Strauss drives a no-ball from Mills through the covers, but he doesn't time it and gets only a single. Mills puts a man out on the boundary for the hook and does offer Cook a shorter ball. But Cook isn't suckered into anything daft, playing a perfectly controlled pull shot all along the ground to that fielder in the deep for an easy single.
Over 44 Martin 0-1-1-0-0-3 21-0 - Strauss plays across a straight delivery from Martin and clips it to long-leg for a single. Gasps from the bowler - it would have been plumb had Strauss missed - and the batsman's grin suggests he knows he should have aimed that straighter, even with tha angle generated by Martin bowling round the wicket. Cook defends to cover for a well-judged single. Strauss is an intelligent man, and has learned from that earlier shot. This time he punches a very similar delivery through wide mid-on and collects three good runs.
Over 43 Mills 0-0-0-1-0-0 16-0 - Strauss defends into the covers fora quick single to rotate the strike, and Cook leaves the last two deliveries of the over.
Over 42 Martin 0-0-0-0-0-0 15-0 - Martin is round the wicket to Cook, a tactic he used in the winter. But Cook is equal to the task here, looking to let the ball go whenever possible.
Over 41 Mills 0-0-1-0-0-0 15-0 - Strauss plays out the over from Mills safely enough, playing deliberately inside the line of the final ball of the over which whistles through to McCullum at head height.
FIGHT! Interesting query from Charlie: "What happens if the two batsmen disagree about whether or not to take the light? Who decides?" I have to say, I've never seen it happen. And while I mentally picture Cook and Strauss wielding their bats like pugil sticks, the umpires signal to the players that the light has improved sufficiently for us to have another go. Deeply frustrating session, this.
Over 41 Mills 0-0-1 15-0 - Always tricky for batsmen when they know the light is about to be offered. Got to keep concentrating on the ball coming down at you rather than the meter in the umpire's hand. Cook defends into the covers for a single, and after that delivery the umpires do get together and ask the question. Cook and Strauss turn smartly on their heels and head for the Pavilion, accompanied it must be said by a couple of boos. But there's little the umpires can do: if the light is as bad as it was earlier, then they have to offer it to the batsmen. And if you're facing the new ball it's not much fun in dodgy light.
Over 40 Martin 1-0-2-4-1-0 14-0 - Again Strauss edges a ball going across him, but again his hands are soft enough that the ball drops short of Marshall at third slip. And again, he can only parry it and allows a single. Cook works one neatly off his pads for an easy two, and then he edges along the ground and wide of Marshall. This time it's slightly wider of the third slipper and runs away to the third-man boundary. Another legside ball is worked away for a single by Cook, and Martin is frustrated by his inconsistent lines in this over. Bucknor's got his light meter out again at the end of the over.
Over 39 Mills 0-0-0-0-1-0 6-0 - Strauss gets a thick outside edge that bounces safely in front of slip and allows him to get through for a single. Cook watches the last ball go through to McCullum.
Over 38 Martin 0-0-0-1-0-0 5-0 - Strauss is beaten by a good one from Martin that slants across the left-hander. Strauss then misses out on a ball on his pads, clipping it to Jamie How at square-leg. He does manage to get off the mark two balls later, though, turning the ball off his hip to long-leg.
Over 37 Mills 0-0-4-0-0-0 4-0 - Mills is given the new ball, and offers Cook a short, wide delivery that he smashes through cover for England's first runs of the innings. Cook drills a drive back past Mills but into the stumps at the non-striker's end, and there's no run. The slip cordon, by the way, has a new look to it for New Zealand. After years of seeing Stephen Fleming at first slip for the Black Caps, it's now Ross Taylor in that position, with Aaron Redmond and James Marshall alongside him.
Over 36 Martin 0-0-0-0-0-0 0-0 - Strauss takes first hit for England, and he lets the first two balls from Martin slide across him and through to Brendon McCullum. He's in two minds against the next ball, trying to leave it alone but getting a bottom edge that bounces through to McCullum. Tidy start from Martin, a maiden.
OPENING UP Strauss is back at the top of the order in partnership with Alastair Cook as Vaughan drops back to number three.
FIGHTING TOTAL New Zealand will be reasonably satisfied, I imagine, with 277 after losing the toss andslumping to 104-5 at one stage. England have stuck to their task, and will now want a solid platform from their openers as they try to build a big first-innings lead. Michael Kennett, meanwhile, wonders if making the balls or players luminous might be one way to thwart the problem of bad light. England are certainly going that way with their new get-up.
Over 35 Sidebottom 2-W 277ao - Vettori clips the first ball of Sidebottom's over down to long-leg, and places it well enough to collect two. WICKET! He then leaves the next ball expecting the outswinger. It is in fact the inswinger and disturbs middle stump. A bad leave, it's fair to say, and Sidebottom picks up his fourth wicket today after a fruitless opening day of the summer.
Over 34 Anderson 0-1-0-0-0-0 275-9 - Martin pushes the final ball of the over through the vacant point area, but Vettori wisely turns down the single to keep the strike.
HOKEY-COKEY And umpire Taufel waves the players back out onto the playing field again. Anderson has one delivery left in his over and, with Martin on strike, there's every chance that after one delivery we'll have a break of another 10 minutes...
METER READING The umpires are milling around on the square with groundsman Mick Hunt, checking the light meters again and discussing their options.
BAD LIGHT Here we go again. Probably just another short break this one - there's no rain around, but unfortunately little wind to blow away the dark clouds. Mark Hunter, meanwhile, writes in to ask why Vettori doesn't open, as England can't seem to get him out. Would certainly have been an interesting decision if Vettori's finger injury had meant he couldn't bowl in this match. Surely the Kiwis would pick him as a captain and top-six batsman, wouldn't they?
Over 34 Anderson 0-1-0-0-0 275-9 - Anderson starts the over with a beauty that jags back and beats Vettori's inside edge. Martin will have liked the look of it from the non-striker's end. Vettori carves the next ball to third-man, where Pietersen is in two minds about whether to go for the catch or not. He doesn't, choosing instead to field cleanly and keep Vettori to a single. Martin on strike with four balls to go. He wafts and misses at the first, while the next ball is just far too good. It seams back sharply at the batsman, beating the inside edge and flying over the top of middle and through to a tumbling Ambrose. Better batsmen than Martin would have been done by that one. Bucknor gets the light meter out again as Martin tries to leave alone and gets an edge along the ground to first slip. The umpires offer the light, and the batsmen depart again. Martin was struggling, but I'm not sure that was particularly due to the iffy light.
Over 33 Sidebottom 0-0-0-0-0-0 274-9 - Sidebottom wastes the first three balls of the over, pushing them across Martin and well wide of the off stump. He's not interested in playing at those, so Sidebottom comes round the wicket. He does manage to draw Martin into a shot, but he misses. Just. Bowl. Straight. Another ball just outside off stump beats Martin's outside edge. The final ball of the over is straighter, but Martin squirts it to gully. Another over survived, and another chance for Vettori to pilfer some valuable runs at Anderson's end.
Over 32 Anderson 2-0-0-4-4-4 274-9 - The field is spread for Vettori, who cleverly manages to tuck the first ball of Anderson's over into the legside and scamper back for a second run to keep the strike. Vettori clumps the fourth ball of the over through point and, after a shambling effort from Pietersen on the fence the ball touches the rope. Pietersen picks the ball up and throws it in like butter wouldn't melt, but Taufel checksupstairs and signals four. Why couldn't Pietersen just admit it? The field comes in for the fifth ball, and Vettori backs away to cut through point. He repeats the trick next ball and this time carves it over point for four more very useful runs. England need to get Martin this over and nip this in the bud.
Over 31 Sidebottom 0-0-W-0-0-0 260-9 - WICKET! The light might be good enough for the umpires, but it isn't for Southee. The first ball after the interruption is full, swinging, and too good for New Zealand's number 10. Middle stump rocked back, and Chris Martin striding purposefully to the crease. Sidebottom eyeing a fourth scalp here, and is cross when his first ball at Martin is angled across the batsman and wide of the off stump. The next ball he overcompensates and whacks Martin's space-age pads. The final ball is on target, but Martin defends to mid-off. Sidebottom, after his struggles yesterday, now has 3-53.
TRY AGAIN The light has apparently improved sufficiently for play to resume, and the England boys are back out in the middle.
BAD LIGHT Not looking great out there now. The umpires lingered on the outfield for a while, but they've now decided they might as well retire to the Pavilion. Still dark out there, but happily no imminent threat of rain. Meanwhile this is definitely the strangest lunch menu we've had: an egg roll and a Marmite milkshake, which can't be a good idea. I guess you either love it or you hate it.
Over 31 Sidebottom 0-0 260-8 - Well, I did say it was gloomy. Two balls into the afternoon session, the umpires get together and decide the conditions are not fit for play. Southee ambles off with Vettori, who is in deep conversation with Ian Bell. Dark clouds overhead and, worse still, absolutely no breeze to clear the murk overhead. No sign yet of the hover cover and its mates, which I suppose is something.
WE'RE BACK The players are back out in the middle for the afternoon session, and it looks dark and dismal out in the middle. Meanwhile there's been another update in what is rapidly escalating into doughnut-gate. Barry Singleton says Michael Stephenson wolfed down all the jam doughnuts before anyone else got the chance. Problems there.
FAT FIGHTERS Could have opened a can of worms with his lunch thing. Mark has dined out on four cheeseburgers and a strawberry milkshake, while Michael Stephenson reckons Brian Stone is telling - appropriately enough - porky pies: "He had sandwiches and one jam doughnut," reports Michael. Chris Mellor and colleagues, meanwhile, have marked a workmate's final day by scoffing 13.5" pizzas. Precise.
LUNCH An old-fashioned session of Test cricket there. Tight bowling, bit of swing, some good bouncers and crunching yorkers. And, from Vettori in particular, some stout resistance. Judging by Sidebottom's first over, England will be confident of picking off the last couple of wickets quickly after lunch - especially as one of them's Chris Martin - but the home side's batsmen know they are going to face a tought test themselves in these conditions.
Over 30 Broad 0-0-1-0-1-0 260-8 - Broad continues with the new ball. The field is set deep, giving Vettori a tricky dilemma: score no runs, or take singles and expose Southee. Vettori hits the third ball of the over to deep point and, after a moment's consideration, decides to take the single. Three balls for Southee to survive, but he does better than that and squirts the penultimate ball out to cover for a single. Vettori wants a single from the final ball of the over but can't get it. Southee will be in Sidebottom's sights, but not before the players have a spot of lunch. Hopefully a healthier one than Brian Stone, who is delighted totell us he's dined on fish and chips followed by jam doughnuts today. Anyone enjoying a less wholesome luncheon than that today? Let's hear about it.
Over 29 Sidebottom 0-W 258-8 WICKET! The new ball does the trick. The first ball almost traps Mills lbw, but was just missing leg. The second also misses leg, and middle, but swings through the defences to uproot the off pole. Tim Southee is the new batsman and is crunched on the pads by three consecutive inswingers. The first is just missing leg, the second is hitting the top of off but Bucknor understandably says no, and the third is missing comfortably. Dazed and confused, Southee aims a mighty heave at the last ball of the over and misses. Brilliant over from Sidebottom, could easily have finished off the innings.
NEW BALL No hesitation, the new ball is taken and Sidebottom hungrily grabs it from the umpire.
Over 28 Broad 0-1-0-0-0-1 258-7 - A controlled pull shot to deep square-leg gets Vettori a single, while a less controlled one from Mills makes no contact and the ball flies through to Ambrose. Broad simply shakes his head at the batsman, who might want to think of another option given the presence of three men catching in the deep. Mills gets a single from the final ball of the over to keep the strike, presumably against Sidebottom and a new cherry.
Over 27 Panesar 1-0-0-0-0-0 256-7 - Vettori collects his now-customary first-ball single, before Panesar spins one past the outside edge of Mills' defensive bat. Sidebottom and Anderson are loosening up in readiness for the new ball, which England hope will expedite a speedy conclusion to this New Zealand first innings.
Over 26 Broad 1-2-0-0-0-0 255-7 - Vettori again takes a single first ball to deep point, and Mills collects a couple with a nice-looking force off the back foot. Two overs until the new ball, and England should get in a couple of overs with it before lunch.
Over 25 Panesar 0-0-0-1-0-0 252-7 - A few emails coming in bemoaning the slow play today, with one even threatening mischief involving Deep Heat and underpants. Yes the scoring's been sedate, but it's not been a dull session. The conditions are still favouring the bowlers, and New Zealand's lower-order are digging in and making things tricky. We can't all bat like McCullum. England, meanwhile, are clearly sitting in and waiting for the new ball.
Over 24 Broad 1-0-0-0-0-0 251-7 - England are giving Vettori a single here, and I'm not convinced that's the right tactic. He may be a very good number eight, but he's a number eight nonetheless. England are basically saying they don't think they can get Vettori out, which in these conditions is pretty depressing. Especially as Broad has already shown today that he's perfectly capable of dismissing the Kiwi skipper. Whatever the merits of the England plan, there's no doubt Mills is struggling against Broad, who goes past the outside edge again before the over is out.
Over 23 Panesar 0-0-0-0-1-1 250-7 - Panesar wheels away, while Paul Collingwood goes through some warm-up routines at first slip. Two singles bring up New Zealand's 250, and slowly but surely they are closing in on that target of 300. The new ball is five overs away, and that is clearly what England are waiting on.
Over 22 Broad 0-1-0-0-1-0 248-7 - It's still quite cagey cricket here. Two singles from Broad's over, and while New Zealand's approach has been rather different today, they are still hauling themselves towards a competitive total here.
Over 21 Panesar 0-1-0-0-0-0 246-7 - Another tidy over from Panesar, just a single to Vettori coming from it.
Over 20 Broad 0-0-0-0-1-0 245-7 - Vettori pushes the ball to Panesar at mid-offand, almost instinctively, calls for a single. But Panesar, to his surprise as much as anyone else's, swoops, gathers and throws at the stumps. He misses by a fraction, and Vettori was in any case home. Still, nice work from Monty and Vettori might think twice about just assuming there's a single available every time he hits the ball to his fellow left-arm tweaker. Broad beats Mills from the final ball of the over.
Over 19 Panesar 3-0-4-1-0-0 244-7 - Nice shot from Mills, rocking back and punching Panesar through extra-cover for three. Vettori sweeps hard square for four and then collects a single. Finally a bit of momentum for the Kiwis after a slow morning.
Over 18 Broad 1-0-0-0-1-0 236-7 - There can't be many number eights in world cricket who will be given a single to get off strike, but Vettori seems to be one such creature. He duly takes the run on offer first ball and Broad immediately beats Mills outside off stump. The next ball is short and Mills tries to pull but gets a bottom edge into his body. Mills getting worked over here, but does manage to get a single to cover.
Over 17 Panesar 0-0-0-0-0-0 234-7 - Maiden over from Panesar, and another huge appeal for lbw - this time against Mills. Bucknor still not interested despite Monty's skipping around and pleading eyes. This one was squeezed between bat and pad, and was a bit tougher to call than yesterday's McCullum shouts.
Over 16 Broad 0-0-0-0-0-0 234-7 - Good over from Broad, almost sneaking a superb yorker through Vettori's defences. He got a bit of tap yesterday did Broad, but most of that was from the bat of McCullum. He's started well against Vettori today.
Over 15 Panesar 1-0-0-1-0-0 234-7 - Double bowling change as Monty Panesar gets his chance. Only bowled four overs yesterday, but did dismiss Brendon McCullum four times so he bowled pretty well. Mills works to leg for a single, and Vettori adds another with a thick outside edge behind gully. Quiet start from Monty today.
Over 14 Broad 0-0-0-0-2-0 232-7 - Stuart Broad replaces Anderson, and second ball thinks he's got Vettori caught down the legside. But Ambrose isn't that interested and, more importantly, neither is Simon Taufel. Looks like it came off the backside rather than the bat. Vettori squeezes one through gully - that's his area - but poor running means they get just two. It was Kevin Pietersen who gave rather laboured chase, but Mills was also dawdling. Vettori swishes at the final ball of the over but misses.
Over 13 Sidebottom 0-0-4lb-0-0-0 230-7 - Mills tries to fend a short ball from Sidebottom into the legside, and the ball loops quite close to Ambrose before rushing away to the boundary. The England fielders were a bit excited about that one, but it came off the jumper rather than glove and four leg-byes is the signal.
Over 12 Anderson 0-0-4-0-0-0 226-7 - The first real bad ball of the morning, overpitched and wide from Anderson, is crashed through the covers by Vettori for the first boundary off the bat today. Another short ball is ducked by Vettori and flies through to Ambrose, who can only parry the ball. Strauss mops up, ensuring the ball doesn't cannon into the helmet stationed behind the keeper and accrue five penalty runs. The last ball of the over is short again, but wide enough that Vettori can leave with ease. Ambrose gathers this time.
Over 11 Sidebottom 0-0-1-0-W-0 222-7 - WICKET! Double nelson strikes. Oram gets another short ball that he dodges unconvincingly. Sidebottom pitches the next one up, and Oram drives with no feet and can only nick off to Andrew Strauss, who juggles but holds on at first slip. Anderson and Sidebottom have worked together quite superbly for that wicket,working Oram over with a series of short balls before getting him with the sucker-punch. Kyle Mills is the new batsman, and he lets his first ball go through to Ambrose.
Over 10 Anderson 0-0-0-0-0-0 221-6 - Another good short ball from Anderson is fended away awkwardly by Oram. Again caught in two minds whether to play or duck, Oram admonishes himself afterwards for taking his eye off the ball. The umpires just exchange a glance after that delivery as well. The light isn't clever, and it might not take too many more short balls to get Bucknor and Taufel together. Graham Stopher wonders if that was a typo earlier, and the sub fielder is in fact Ashes hero Gary Pratt. Alas no, Graham: it is indeed Durham's Garry Park, one of the many county players to have dismissed Andrew Flintoff for nought this summer.
Over 9 Sidebottom 0-0-0-1-0-0 221-6 - Sidebottom's lines are much better today. Vettori almost chips the last ball of the over to sub fielder Garry Park at mid-on, but the ball bounces short. Attritional fare this morning with New Zealand battling hard.
Over 8 Anderson 0-0-0-3-0-0 220-6 - Another bouncer, and this time Oram gets in a tangle. His first reaction is to duck, but the ball doesn't bounce as much as he'd hoped and crashes into the shoulder. He at least kept the bat and gloves low, taking the blow on the body. Anderson floats the next one up full, but Oram is equal to it and pushes down the ground for three.
Over 7 Sidebottom 0-0-0-0-0-0 217-6 - Sidebottom's tried the occasional bouncer this morning, and they've been pretty good as well. Vettori goes under this one safely enough as the ball flies through to Ambrose at head height. Such a shame about the weather yesterday - I reckon this pitch would have had some lively pace abnd bounce if the sun had come out. The next one jags back dramatically down the hill, but not enough to threaten Vettori's stumps. Another maiden for Sidebottom, and there's just a sense that both teams are sitting in and waiting for something to happen. Very quiet opening half-hour.
Over 6 Anderson 0-0-0-1-0-0 217-6 - Vettori rotates the strike with a sharp quick single to cover, and Anderson then just gets one to shape back at Oram and cannon into the pads off the inside edge. Just signs in the last couple of overs that the ball is starting to move again.
Over 5 Sidebottom 0-0-0-0-0-0 216-6 - Sidebottom does find some swing, but too much as he hoops one past Oram's outside edge as the left-hander props hesitantly half-forward. Good maiden over from Sidebottom, but a quiet start to the morning's play.
Over 4 Anderson 1lb-0-0-1-0-0 216-6 - New Zealand collect another leg-bye off Vettori's hip and, that mix-up in the last over aside, it's been fairly comfortable for the batsmen this morning. England's bowlers haven't found the assistance they got yesterday. Oram works Anderson round the corner to long-leg for an easy single. The ball's trying to swing, but it's just not quite happening for Anderson today.
Over 3 Sidebottom 0-0-0-1-0-4b 214-6 - Vettori drives to mid-on, who parries the ball. Vettori wants a single, Oram wants to ball-watch and there's almost a mix-up. But Oram eventually agrees with his captain and scampers through for a single as Vaughan tidies up at mid-off. The final ball of the over is fired down the legside by Sidebottom and a slightly flat-footed Ambrose can only parry the ball away for four byes.
Over 2 Anderson 0-0-0-0-1lb-0 209-6 - A legside delivery cannons off Vettori's thigh for a leg-bye, and Jimmy Anderson then tests Oram with a bouncer. Might be a plan to Oram - it's the second of the day - but again the big left-hander plays it well.
Over 1 Sidebottom 0-0-0-0-0208-6 - Ryan Sidebottom completes the over he started yesterday evening. After a couple of gentle looseners, Sidebottom bangs in a well-directed bouncer that Oram avoids quite neatly, swaying back and keeping his eye on the ball. Tim Ambrose gathers the ball in at head height. There are 98 full overs scheduled for today, now that hangover from last night has been completed.
KIT OF ALL WHITE The new England kit continues to be a topic of conversation on the emails. Chris Graham reckons the theory's similar to Petr Cech's dayglo orange goalie kit - in this case the bright white kit is designed to induce a crucial moment of snow-blindness in the batsman who, caught in the headlights, plays a false shot. Or, Chris concedes, it might just be meant to look pretty. Either way, the boys are in their dazzling white huddle ahead of the day's play.
WEATHER WATCH 'Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers' is the verdict. The weathermen not particularly sticking their necks out with that forecast, but it sounds fair enough.
PITCH REPORT Sir Ian's brief and succinct this morning: the pitch and overhead conditions are basically the same as yesterday. The ball should swing and seam about, and both teams have bowlers who should enjoy those conditions. Could be a tricky day for batsmen.
EARLY BIRDS Mark Hunter asks why play doesn't start early to make up some lost overs. As a rule, I'd agree with him. When the sun's shining at 10.30am, we're 40 overs down and the players are milling about chucking rugby balls around it is frustrating. But today I think we'd have struggled to get going earlier than scheduled. It's not too bright out there. Let us know your thoughts on anything to do with the cricket - or anything else you like - via the FEEDBACK icon.
WELCOME It's a grey and cloudy morning in Lord's but - crucially - a dry one. We're all set (at the moment) for a prompt start, though David Gower is a tad concerned about the light - he reckons the umpires have been checking it already. So the conditions still favour the bowlers: cloudy skies, and a damp atmosphere giving the pitch that green tinge we saw yesterday. England will want to polish this innings off fairly quickly, but they'll be well aware there is still some batting to come given the upside-down nature of the New Zealand batting line-up. Jacob Oram and Daniel Vettori will take some shifting, Kyle Mills has some talent with the willow while we saw in Napier how dangerous young Tim Southee can be if the force is with him. Chris Martin, on the other hand, is about as much use as a New Zealand opener and should be summarily dealt with. New Zealand will reckon they're well in the game if they can sneak up to 300 in these conditions after being stuck in by England.
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