Chris Harris proved impossible to dislodge

Harris stood and watched as New Zealand subsided to the new ball, and then defended grimly for three-and-a-quarter hours to add 67 with McMillan.

His subsequent unbroken partnership with Parore - in his final Test - is now worth 65.

Caddick must have been as surprised as everyone else on the ground when, having lost the toss (Hussain's 18th loss out of 21) he found himself in the field.

These drop-in pitches always start damp, and this one is also well-grassed, so Fleming must have feared there would be movement on the first morning.

Nevertheless he decided to bat first and must have wished he hadn't when he was nipped out in the eighth over, shortly after Richardson had been bowled by a ball that seamed back at him.

Caddick is always much better for an early wicket or two and, at times, was unplayable as his height also produced awkward bounce.

He bowled Vincent with another ball that cut back and hit the off stump, then Thorpe dived low to his left at third slip to cling onto the catch of the series to dismiss the dangerous Astle for two.

Laughing stock

There was the chance that England could run through New Zealand and make Fleming a laughing stock.

But England found themselves exposed because of their decision to field the same team as in previous matches and, therefore, field a seam bowler too few.

Matthew Hoggard was not at his best

This was understandable in Christchurch, where the pitch was so green that they felt they needed bolster their batting, and also at Wellington where the loss of the first day and three quarters meant they would not need a fourth seamer.

However here, on a better strip and with more time, they missed White and this point was driven home when Flintoff produced his first really wayward spell of the winter.

A succession of leg-stump half-volleys were gratefully despatched by McMillan who raced to 41 before Caddick trapped him lbw on the stroke of lunch.

Hussain, therefore, would not have been especially disappointed when bad light shortened the day, but New Zealand's tactics - in accepting the umpires' offer - were less easy to fathom.

They need to win the match, and they won't achieve that by sitting in the dressing room.