Key events

2m agoWICKET! England 94-6 (Stokes c Williamson b Jamieson 12)
44m agoWICKET! England 55-5 (Smith b Jamieson 1)
1h agoWICKET! England 34-4 (Root c Blundell b O'Rourke 1)
1h agoWICKET! England 33-3 (Bethell LBW b O'Rourke 6)
1h agoWICKET! England 31-2 (Duckett LBW b Smith 19)
2h agoResuming at 1.45!
2h agoInspection at 1.30
3h agoLunch now, restart at 1.25 (all being well)
3h agoMid-rain reading
4h agoRain stops play!
4h agoWICKET! Gay c Mitchell b Jamieson 8 (England 16-1)
5h agoTeams in full
5h agoTeams in brief
5h agoToss: NZ put England in
5h agoPreamble

27th over: England 94-6 (Brook 43, Atkinson 0) Gus Atkinson, who for reasons I cannot understand has become somewhat overlooked, is the incoming batter.

There is a minor worry regarding Stokes fitness too. Earlier in that over he pivoted quickly after being called back and seemed to strain his groin during the movement.

WICKET! England 94-6 (Stokes c Williamson b Jamieson 12)

That represents a poor choice from Harry Brook, a dismissive pick-up and pull off Jamieson that sails over square leg for four. Much remains but Brook batting today has echoed the series-clinching counter-attacks in New Zealand 18 months prior. On those occasions England stood at 71 for 4 and 43 for 4.

And today they sit at 94 for 6 because Stokes has departed! He defended a length ball that lifted to produce a thick edge and was brilliantly held by Kane Williamson at third slip. Williamson dived low, moving in from Latham, and secured it one-handed just above the turf. An outstanding catch!

26th over: England 83-5 (Brook 36, Stokes 8) Stokes claims his opening boundary via a sharp flick through midwicket off Smith. What England would offer for Stokes to locate some batting rhythm. It has been three years since his expressionless assault against Australia on this ground, and since then he averages below 30.

So, writes Rory in Cardiff, in what sense is losing your off stump without offering a shot any less a squandering of your wicket than being caught on the boundary?

At least with the more overt aggression of Bazball Mk1 wickets fell in pursuit of runs, but that dismissal returns us to the uninspiring times before the present leadership arrived.

I consider that somewhat severe on Smith, although there may have been an aspect of appearing to act correctly. Likewise, the standout batter today, by some margin, has been the most positive.

25th over: England 79-5 (Brook 36, Stokes 4) Brook advances at Jamieson and pulls an awkward, flamingo-like boundary through mid-on. You cannot simply allow Kyle Jamieson to deliver in the identical area repeatedly, says Stuart Broad on commentary. You must disrupt his length.

To illustrate the point, Jamiesons following delivery is overly full and struck superbly through mid-on for another four. Superb batting.

Drinks

Tea will occur at 4.15pm owing to the prior rain.

24th over: England 71-5 (Brook 28, Stokes 4) Smith takes over from Jamieson, who might switch ends to replace O'Rourke. New Zealand are presently reduced to three specialist seamers due to Matt Henrys back issue.

Ah yes, the refreshed England under the renewal of McCullum and Key! writes X. It mirrors the previous England under McCullum and Key. The more it remains unchanged, the more it remains unchanged, non?

The entitled complaints and careless tirades in my inbox have indeed remained unchanged, even though the nature of Englands batting difficulties today hardly resembles what occurred in Australia.