Tim Ambrose hit a superb unbeaten 97 as England recovered from a top-order collapse to post 291-5 on day one of the second Test against New Zealand.

Jacob Oram removed Alastair Cook (44) and Michael Vaughan (32), who had put on 79, to spark a slump after lunch.

When Kevin Pietersen (31) was fifth out on 136 it looked grim for the tourists, who are 1-0 down, but Ambrose hit his second fifty in as many Tests.

He dominated an unbroken stand of 155 with Paul Collingwood (48no).

By Paul Fletcher

Get involved. E-mail tms@bbc.co.uk (with 'For Paul Fletcher' in the subject), text 81111 (with "CRICKET" as the first word) or use 606 between 0900-2300 GMT. (Not all contributions can be used).

0510: So, a somewhat bizarre day comes to an end. England did not lose any wickets in the morning and evening sessions but lost five in the afternoon session.

Ambrose played superbly and finishes the day on 97 while Colly has 48. They are unbeaten on 155 and ensured the day belonged to England.

Thanks very much for all you contributions today. I hope all the students finished their essays. I'll be back tomorrow when we can do it all over again.

"From England's perspective, Tim Ambrose has rescued the tour. This could be a landmark innings not just for this campaign but for Ambrose as well. He has played with a freedom at a time when paranoia has taken over most of the England line-up."
TMS summariser Vic Marks

0500: 291-5 Ambo leaves one, Oram then beats Ambo with a cracker that nips off the seam. Ambo then almost chops on. This has been a nervy over so far. Another play and miss. Ambrose then misses a fullish delivery and breaks into a grin of the rueful kind. He is beaten off the final ball and left on 97 overnight.

0455: 291-5 The penultimate over of the day and three boundaries for Ambrose to reach three figures. Or two sixes - and Ambo hits one of them with a pull off Mills, who blows his cheeks. The 150 partnership comes up. Ambrose pulls the ball for three and goes to the non-striker's end. He is on 97.

0451: 282-5 Oram the Destroyer is back on. He looks a touch stiff. I imagine he does not delivery 20-plus overs in a day too often. Colly moves to 48 with a boundary through the cover region and skipper Vettori strokes his chin. I rather suspect he wants the day to end.

0447: 278-5 The Kiwis are definitely looking short of ideas. A punchy backfoot shot from Colly yields three. Ambo then cuts Mills for his 15th boundary. Remember, Colly and Ambo came together with the score on 136-5 with neither player off the mark.

0440: 271-5 I'm moving towards the opinion that, having been stuck in, this is England's day. And that is even with the disaster of the middle session when England lost five wickets for 57 runs. To prove the point Ambrose hits a lush drive through mid-off. A peach. Ambo then cuts the ball for another boundary. He is closing in on a century with 84 off 125 balls.

0438: 263-5 Mills goes past the outside edge of Colly - but there have not been too many alarms of late. A maiden for Mills.

0434: 263-5 Ambo drives Mills through the cover region. He is making this Test match lark look easy. Mind you, Strauss once did that.

(See 0256) "To all those slating students - I blagged an extension because my English tutor is a massive cricket fan, and I simply told her today was a massive day for English Test cricket with all the personnel changes. So, here I am, happily listening to the cricket whilst casually turning out an essay. The student life - nothing beats it!"
Mo, Loughborough, via email

0430: 259-5 Jamie How makes a great stop after another cracking cut shot from Ambo. No massive dramas so far with the new ball for Ambo and Colly. A slight mis-field from Sinclair hints at a long day in the field for the Kiwis - we are now past the scheduled finish time.

"I think that up to a point, and given the collapse they had, England have probably shaded today."
TMS summariser Mike Selvey

0424: 258-5 Martin shares the new ball with Mills. The mission now is for Colly and Ambo to see play through to the close. Colly, via a thick edge, drives through the gully region to register another boundary. Nine overs left today.

"Mitch likes the old food subject too, I remember a live text night not all that long ago with marmite as his stand out topic."
Simon, Adelaide, via email

Fair comment Simon. I could confirm that Mitch is proficient on the topic of food, as well as many other subjects.

0418: 254-5 The Kiwis take the new ball straight away - Vettori tossing it to Kyle Mills. No problem for Ambo, who drives the ball towards the boundary. They run two and Colly comes charging down for three but is sent back and almost run out at the non-striker's end.

0417: 252-5 And when I said (0411) that Mark Mithchener can talk cricket, I should have also added Star Wars, Bournemouth football club and James Bond. Encyclopaedic on each one.

A short one from Gillespie is way over Colly's head and disappears for four. Colly then smacks a cracking drive to the ropes and England ease past the 250 mark. Well, not really ease past...

0412: 242-5 A single off Vettori - the new ball is just one over away. Then we could have some late drama.

0411: 241-5 I wonder what my colleague Mark Mitchener has made of the day's play from his seat in the Basin Reserve? More to the point, I wonder what the people to his immediate left and right think of it. Great lad Mitch, but he can seriously talk cricket.

Colly, with a semi-shuffle forward, survives a very strong lbw appeal. Replays suggest he was just outside the line when contact was made.

(See 0309) "One problem students face is that people like me use the Information Superhighway to help detect copying - blatant/not very clever copying, at least."
John Watts, Mississippi, USA via email

0405: 239-5 Another four for Ambrose with a cut off Vettori that had more than an element of a thickish edge to it. No matter, it has brought up the century partnership, to which Ambo has contributed 67.

0403: 234-5 We are now into the final hour of the day's play. Students - get writing. The witching hour will soon be over. A slightly lofted drive from Colly almost sees him caught by Sinclair at short extra cover. Gillespie is not thrilled.

0359: 233-5 England continue to keep the scoreboard ticking along, picking up three off Vettori's over.

0353: 230-5 Gillespie replaces Oram and beats Ambrose's outside edge. Ambo responds with a superb four, clipping the ball through mid-wicket to move onto 62.

"It may sound like a novice's question but what does 3-0-14-0 stand for? Thanks."
Harry, Vermont, via email

No problem Harry. It means three overs have been bowled and 14 runs conceded. The second column denotes maidens (overs without conceding a run) and the fourth column wickets. Hope that helps.

0351: 226-5 Ambrose plays an excellent cut shot for a boundary off Vettori. The wicketkeeper looks in superb form. the new ball is now just a few overs away - seven to be precise.

0349: 220-5 Oram continues. Another maiden. Remarkable, he has conceded 21 runs in 20 overs.

0345: 220-5 Vettori continues to wheel away. There are 20 overs scheduled for the rest of the day. The Kiwi skipper varies his pace and Colly patiently defends.

0342: 218-5 A couple more for Ambrose and let us doff our cap to him, he has showed a lot of guts and spirit. The cynics might say that he has the true grit of an Aussie.

0340: Ambrose cuts Oram for a boundary and brings up his half century, which he has compiled in 68 balls.

0336: 212-5 Vettori on after drinks. Harmy, by the way, brought the drinks out for England. The visiting team pick off four runs and Vettori now has figures of 3-0-14-0.

"We have had two periods of play when the pitch looked good to bat on - this morning and now, when we have Ambrose, who has taken a few chances but played some positive strokes."
TMS summariser Geoff Boycott

0333: 208-5 Hold the back page - Ambrose moves on to 44 with a drive through mid-off. The miracle being that it came off Oram - the first boundary he has conceded. Oram responds by going past the outside edge. In fact, Ambo, if I can call him that, gets nowhere near it. the partnership is now worth 72 and drinks come on to the field.

(See 0256) "I for one am a student who is more than willing to admit that the 24 hour essay sentiment is spot on. More because I'm quite simply bone idle, rather than due to any particular lack of information. Interestingly though, my knowledge of international cricket is considerably more substantial than my knowledge of Bolshevik tendencies of immigrants to the USA during the First Red Scare."
Ed in Falmouth via email

0329: 204-5 Vettori continues, doubtless mindful of the fact that I'll be here all night if his team does not raise the run rate. Three off the over and England's slow revival continues thank you very much.

0325: 201-5 The Barmy Army is finally starting to find its voice after an afternoon session that left them stunned. Oram still on the money, hitting Colly in the danger zone. Just one run off the over but don't panic it wasn't off the bat - it was a no-ball.

"I'm writing my application essay to get into college - what's cricket?"
Kevin, Walnut Creek, California via email

Now if you are serious you really must be bored to have stumbled on to a website talking about something you know nothing about.

0319: 200-5 Sure enough, the skipper brings himself on and Colly promptly pulls a short one for four before nudging for three to bring up 200 for England. That looked unlikely an hour ago.

0317: 193-5 Ambrose keeps getting width outside the off-stump and keeps trying to flay it away. He gets two off Oram and you think Vettori will have to change things around to unsettle him.

0311: 191-5 The 50 partnership between Colly and Ambrose comes up. The Barmy Army trumpeter sounds at the announcement and is greeted with a huge roar by the English supporters. He has been very quiet today but breaks into the Great Escape. Colly slaps Mills through the air for a boundary to celebrate.

0309: 184-5 Oram beats Colly, going past the outside edge, and bowls a maiden. No change there then.

"Just noticed all the students whinging about writing essays with obscure titles. Surely it must be pretty simple in this day and age with the Information Superhighway to glean information on each assignment. I remember having to go to the library try and source information, but being forever distracted by "Bird with a Lisp" and trying not to stare at her for too long. How hot was she�.."
David, Hong Kong, via email

That's the way David, lay into them lazy students. If you could see the inbox, it is full of them laying me to waste following the "24 hours essay countdown" outburst.

And David, I have no idea how hot she was. You will have to enlighten us.

0305: Fear him - Oram the Destroyer is back.

0304: 184-5 Ambrose plays a superb, slaying square cut off Mills. Four. I very much like the look of Ambrose. He might not be a big lad but he is certainly taking it to them.

"England are making batting on this track look like climbing Everest backwards on one leg with a blindfold on. Pure farce."
Dan, Wolverhampton, via text on 81111

I hope you are not speaking from experience.

0300: 180-5 Collingwood drives the ball for two runs. He has been comprehensively outscored by Ambrose so far but at least both are still at the crease.

(See 0230) "Just 'a' David Fulton - sorry son. I pull on the whites every Saturday but certainly could not claim to be a first class cricketer like my namesake. My claim to fame is being 'One metre David'."
David Fulton, Christchurch, NZ, via email

I don't want to know David. Far too late/early here for that type of unsavoury chat.

0256: 178-5 Mills continues. Ambrose looks a bit more solid in defence. Though as I write that he flays at a wide one which flies off the edge and to the boundary.

"My mate and I have got a 2,500 word essay on discursive and phenomenological analysis to write for tomorrow...wondering what that is? So are we."
Vee and BZ, Birmingham University, via email

Tomorrow tomorrow or tomorrow today? And tell me - do students ever write essays prior to the 24 hours before they have to be handed in?

0251: 173-5 No sign of spin yet - and who can blame Vettori given the job his seamers have done. No pressure, then, on recalled duo Broad and Anderson when they come to bowl.

Ambrose hooks Martin for six. A quite vicious top edge that he follows with a stand-and-deliver play-and-miss. Repeats the play-and-miss.

0247: 166-5 Mills continues. Once again Ambrose is beaten. Ambrose has looked good at times but played down the wrong line too often.

"Essaying student here, been with you for some time. Though I seem to be making faster progress than England."
Oli, Warwick via text on 81111

This England performance is not exactly providing the sort of inspiration to get you through those final couple of thousand words.

0243: 165-5 Martin bowls his second over of the session. He tries a yorker that Colly manages to dig out. Colly pushes a single and must be glad he did because Martin then bowls a cracking short ball that follows Ambrose, who wears one (so to speak).

"Andrew Strauss surely needs a good knock in the second innings or he has to be dropped."
David via email

Looking at the way he batted today I would suggest that Strauss needs a knock on the bonce.

0239: 164-5 Mills goes past Ambrose's outside edge. The first maiden of the session - and after all that excitement as well.

0234: 164-5 Broad, Sidebottom, Panesar and Anderson to follow. Collingwood and Ambrose better score some runs. Ambrose cuts the ball for four and drives for three. Is he playing in a different match to the other England players?

"I'm flying from home in Hamilton to Wellington tonight to attend the rest of this match and lend my Barmy support to the 'Mighty England'. Should I pack my whites?"
Matthew, Hamilton, via email

Perhaps cancelling your ticket and putting in for some overtime would be a better option.

0230: Tea break over. Misery doubtless set to continue blah blah blah. Trust all you busy essaying students are still with us.

"I think it is about time bedtime called. Watching England at cricket has become more depressing than listening to my Leonard Cohen."
Matt, Durham, via email

No question Matt, unless you enjoy sport as car crash it is undoubtedly time to be thinking about calling it a night.

"You guys must be doing it tough in the middle of the night watching this. How can such a classy top order manage to ruin such a good start? Another session in this series where England have done all they can to lose the match. That's usually something the Black Caps specialise in."
David Fulton, Christchurch, NZ, via email

The David Fulton or a David Fulton?

"Ding dong Bell
The battings gone to hell ...
... you finish it!"
Ian, Auckland, via email

What about -
Ripped apart by Oram
Pommies, he will be floor 'em

Come on - someone must be able to do better. "New Zealand have had a wonderully session - they could not have wished for anything more."
TMS summariser Geoff Boycott

0211: 156-5 Ambrose gets off the mark with a driven boundary. A confident stroke from the England wicketkeeper. Another full ball comes in and he drives it confidently once again. Ambrose then ducks into a short one from Gillespie and the ball bounces off his helmet and goes for another four. The riposte from Ambrose? He cuts the ball for the fourth boundary of the over. A good end to a torrid session as the players wander off for tea. England have added 77 for the loss of five wickets in 26 overs.

0206: 140-5 Blessed relief. Collingwood hits a good boundary, hooking Martin. At least he is off the mark.

"I think I have got all those students beat with the late night studying, I'm doing Disaster Management and trying to complete a paper on Disaster Risk Reduction. It's all about preparedness, prevention, recovery, coping capacity, vulnerability and sustainable development. I was going to use Tsunami's as an example. but I think I'd get better marks using England as prime example of how not to do it."
Martin, Coventry, via email

0202: 136-5 Gillespie finishes the over bowling to Ambrose, who is very much under pressure. Let us not forget that England were 79-0 at lunch. Neither Ambrose nor Collingwood are off the mark.

0158: WICKET - Pietersen b Gillespie 31 (Eng 136-5)
KP plays a good hook stroke off Gillespie for two runs. He moves on to 29 - and you think he must be the one who actually converts a decent start into a big score. He takes another two then... Oops. A fully delivery is straight through the gate as Pietersen tries to drive. The end of KP.

0156: 132-4 Martin bowls a maiden, just a bye to the tally and Colly still to get off the mark. Sticky this, very sticky.

0151: 131-4 Gillespie bowls a quick bouncer that Collingwood shapes to hook. It goes for four byes. Boycott remarks that when it comes to hooking, Collingwood should think about hooking his coat on a peg.

0145: WICKET - Bell c McCullum b Martin 11 (Eng 126-4)
Bell edges one from Martin and McCullum takes a good diving catch. Martin then hits Collingwood on the shoulder with a bouncer. Bell scored 11 of 38 balls. It has been a horror show since lunch.

"If Bell was playing well he would have left that delivery. He looked uncertain and tentative."
TMS summariser Geoff Boycott

0144: 126-3 Bell's confidence is growing now and he drives Martin through mid-off for four stylish runs.

0141: 122-3 Gillespie sends down some short-pitched stuff at Pietersen and KP responds with a majestic pull for four and another next ball for two.

0138: 115-3 Ironic cheers from the crowd as KP plays a shot with attacking intent, only worth a single though. Imagine the rapturous reception when Bell drives Martin for a boundary. Oram, by the way, is off the field having slowed England's run rate to a speed resembling progress on the M1 just north of London at rush hour.

0132: 109-3 Gillespie runs in. He looked awful before lunch but is starting to resemble a terror, as is most of his team. Yet another maiden - though he is the first other than Oram to bowl a maiden.

"Regarding cricketing similes - how about 'watching England play cricket is like intruding on a nation's private grief'?"
Paddy in Wellington via email

Nice.

0128: 109-3 Oram in again, his 14th over. he has played very well but should he really have figures of 13-6-8-2? KP is out of his crease to try to throw Oram out of his grove. Make that 14-7-8-2. All you students out there writing essays or whatever need not fear that you missing out on crackerjack cricket.

0124: 109-3 Gillespie goes for a single off the over, KP moving on to 19.

"I'm another student burning the midnight oil, ploughing through an Architecture Project due in at 10am, and with only TMS web commentary and The Office to keep me awake.

"Having done two pages of work and seeing we'd reached lunch without loss, I thought I'd celebrate with a plate of spag bol, only to come back from the kitchen and see we're three wickets down. I didn't think anything could get me more frustrated than doing 'site analysis', but that scoreline really was a poke in the eye."
Jon, Manchester via email

Keep going mate, we're all behind you and all the other hard-working students slaving away against the injustices of the education system. Honestly, back in the day they just gave degrees away.

0118: 108-3 Oram continues after the break for drinks. No surprise there. One run off the over - quite expensive for him.

"On the subject of dissertations, I have 6000 words due in less than a week on the human right's implications of mortgage law. And now England are three down after lunch. Could life possibly get any worse?"
Yash Zaveri, Euston via 81111

Hmm. I'm afraid I can be of no help whatsoever. Though I might suggest that a firm focus on the matter in hand would serve both England and yourself extremely well. Not that I ever left any essays to the last minute.

In fact, I still have a recurring nightmare about my dissertation. It is a week before I have to hand it in and I have not even started it. Terrifying.

0113: 107-3 Bell seems to be pushing for the ball a little. He plays and misses to Gillespie and then ruefully shakes his head. Drinks on the field. Since lunch it has been all NZ.

0109: 106-3 Another Oram over and just a single off it. England have not got to grips with him at all. Figures so far - 12-6-7-2.

"I'm going back for my lunch - we were better then, we had no wickets down."
TMS summariser Geoff Boycott

"I'm preparing a lesson about poetic similes for tomorrow and would love to work in some cricket ones for my American students. I remember one by Dirsy about Harmison looking like an Indian deity running for a bus. Not bad. Any other suggestions?"
Wayne, Bangor, Maine, via email

How about Michael Vaughan's team looking like a professional cricket outfit representing their nation with pride?

0105: 105-3 Mills bowls the 39th over of the innings. Just a single comes from it. England are going through one of their all-too familiar rebuilding phases.

0101: 104-3 Oram finds Bell's outside edge. McCullum tries to take the catch diving in front of Fleming at first slip. The keeper palms the ball to Fleming. Another lucky escape, another Oram maiden.

"I am currently soldiering through a dissertation proposal for my geography degree and had been quite enjoying the cricket, but I am now wondering whether England should avoid taking lunch or tea when batting?

"Anyway, at least I am sat in a warm room listening to TMS and reading the web commentary, as opposed to some of my flatmates who have gone out to Morecambe dressed only in Togas. Come on England!"
S.Birkinshaw, Lancaster, via email

I'm starting to think that this Test series is propping up a whole host of students struggling through the night. Focus, focus, focus.

0057: 104-3 Ian Bell almost loses his wicket straight away with a hook shot that falls just short of Gillespie at deep fine leg as he charges in from the boundary. The wheels are well and truly falling off the shambolic England bus. KP rounds off the comedy with a couple of boundaries.

0051: WICKET - Strauss c Sinclair b Mills 8 (Eng 94-3)
Strauss pushes forward outside his off stump and floats the ball to Sinclair at point. Strauss's bodyweight is all wrong when he plays the shot and England's innings is falling apart.

0050: 94-2 Oram the destroyer is back into the attack and should have Strauss lbw with a full length delivery - at least on first inspection. Replays, however, show that an inside edge saved Strauss.

"Having watched the latest Test match I have noticed the quality of Jacob Oram as a bowler for New Zealand. I couldn't help noticing that he looks (appearance wise) like the result of a crossing between Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne."
Simon Winnard, Conneticut, via email

0045: 92-2 Geoff Boycott into the TMS box and he is not thrilled about events after lunch. Mills lets KP have a short one. Just a single off the over.

"Lets go out on a limb here and say Strauss hits a double ton as long as the rest of the gang stay in for long. The missus is spiking my tea again, I swear."
Michael via email

"Wife just went to bed so I put the cricket on the TV. First ball of the day that I see and Vaughan got knocked over! Wish I'd gone to bed!"
Nigel, Evesham, via text on 81111

0040: 91-2 Oram beats KP again and again, going past his outside edge. To combat this KP comes down the track and hits a single. Oram then beats Strauss. This guy has become unplayable.

0036: 90-2 Two singles for Pietersen and one for Strauss off Mills. Life's a lot more comfortable against him than Oram.

0033: 87-2 This is the Jacob Oram show. He beats Strauss twice in the next over and Pietersen has the right idea - get off strike sharpish. Oram's figures are 8-5-3-2.

0028: 86-2 Strauss drives Mills straight down the ground in convincing fashion for four.

0022: WICKET - Cook c McCullum b Oram 44 (Eng 82-2)
Cook is caught by the keeper, a little outside edge to one that slanted across him and Oram has struck again.

What was that about the English batsmen building big scores?

"So what is it exactly England are putting in there lunchtime drinks? That is three innings in a row now that England have lost a wicket second ball back."
Jim, London, via email

0019: 82-1 Mills in the attack and a single for Cook and two for Strauss, who is off the mark.

0015: 79-1 Strauss out into the middle. A pressure innings for the former England opener. Oram now has figures of 6-4-2-1. Impressive.

"It was a ball that Vaughan should really have negotiated. It straightened a little."
TMS commentator Jonathan Agnew

0011: WICKET - Vaughan b Oram 32 (Eng 79-1)
The second ball after lunch and Vaughan is bowled. A line and length delivery that held its line and hit the top of off stump. Vaughan looks very, very perplexed but the bottom line is he missed it.

(See 2313) "The request for a cricketing Cuban Missile Crisis analogy, the Russians actually referred to the situation as the 'Caribbean Crisis', surely an applicable name for the situation surrounding West Indian cricket currently, if not the situation felt the cricketing world over in the 70s and 80s when the West Indians toured!"
Steve, St Helens, via email.

"Consider the Americans as a batsman new to the crease. He wasn't paying full attention to the ball (ships of missiles) and the Soviets slipped one past him down the off-side and it was taken by the wicket-keeper Cuba. This surprised the Americans who then had to decide whether or not to smack it for six (bomb missile sites) and risk a perfect yorker (Soviet attack) next ball, a cut for four (bring it up at the UN and threaten military action) and risk a bouncer (potential nuclear strike), or compromise and play the forward defensive (negotiate removal) in return for a long hop (removal of missiles)." Hope that helps.
Chris, Coventry, via email

Chris, do you have quite a lot of time on your hands?

0000: Cheese and turkey sandwich, with potato salad and ready salted crisps for my lunch. Not what I'm normally eating at this time of night.

(See 2322) "Mongolia have got a half decent side at the moment so I wouldn't go there. You need to go somewhere that has some cricket infrastructure but the current national side is so bad that they will look at just about anybody. Hang on...why not stay where you are! By the way, I'm English and I am aloud to rubbish the team."
Peter in Brisbane via email

2340: OK, I'm off for a spot of lunch. Make that a sandwich that I made much earlier today. I'll be back with you about midnight.

2330: 79-0 LUNCH Martin continues and Vaughan again plays a thickish drive that Matthew Bell stops in the gully.

It has been a good morning for England - after the last Test and having been asked to bat by Vettori then I guess you cannot ask for more than a wicketless morning.

"It has been a very good session from England's point of view."
TMS commentator Bryan Waddle

"Having just spotted all the South American cricket chat - does anyone know if there is a national team in Colombia? I've been here for four years and haven't seen anything. If there is a team I reckon the high altitude might help me hit my first six."
Max, Medellin, via email

2324: 78-0 Oram has now bowled five overs and gone for just two runs. Three maidens in his mixer as well.

The television cameras in NZ are constantly cutting to Sir Richard Hadlee in the stands. Sort of a Kiwi Maradona, but in a more legal way.

2322: 78-0 Vettori mis-fields and Vaughan takes a single. It is sloppy, very sloppy from the Kiwi captain, who has not had a great morning after sticking England in. Mills appeals for lbw against Vaughan but Rudi Koertzen is not interested. The visiting team are ticking along.

(See 2307) "Ed in Brazil, do you mean to say that if I go off and live in somewhere with almost no people for seven years I could get to be an international cricketer? My dreams WILL come true - I'm off to Mongolia or somewhere in the morning, and I'm taking a bat."
Paul in Lancashire via email

2317: 75-0 Cook survives an lbw appeal - looked a bit high. Oram is around the wicket to Cook - all the Kiwi bowlers are probing outside his off stump. Just a single off the over.

2313: 74-0 Chris Martin is back on and finds the outside edge of Cook's bat but the ball falls just short of Ross Taylor at second slip. Cook has been a little wishy washy outside his off stump. To prove my point, he sort of somehow steers a fullish ball through the gully region for another boundary. The opener then executes a more solid drive for a couple.

"Can anyone come up with a cricket analogy I can slot into my essay on the Cuban missile crisis?"
Chris, Deptford, via text on 81111

2307: 67-0 Oram is into his third over and has been pretty impressive. He beats Vaughan with one that nips back and then goes past his outside edge. Another maiden.

(See 2222) "Got to be honest Paul - ICC rules state you have to be resident in Brazil for 7 years to qualify to play. Hence we have 9 Indians, a Canadian, 4 Brazilians and an English guy who used to play for Kent.

"The coaching job is unpaid and involves lugging lots of kit. Dazzling footwork at a premium.

"Still, we are building slowly. Womens cricket is actually stronger than the men's - long way to go though. We need to get out of our group with Belize, Chile and Peru to face the mighty Argentina, Uganda and Denmark. After that, Test status beckons��"
Ed Matkin via email

2306: 67-0 Gillespie is now hitting a pretty good line outside Cook's off stump. I'll say this for Gillespie, he is not scared to pitch the ball up and risk being driven. However, Gillespie strays to a leg stump line and Vaughan cracks him away for a boundary and follows that up with three through the gully region.

"Please don't say silly things like 'it's all looking very comfortable'. Don't you know anything about supporting England's cricket team?"
Alison in France via email

But it is, sort of.

2258: 59-0 Oram seems to be finding some bounce and Vaughan is pretty watchful. Just one run in the form on a no-ball from the over.

2255: 58-0 Cook hooks the ball for four off Gillespie, who would be much better served pitching it up. He adjusts his line, fuller and outside the off stump. Cook leaves alone.

2252: 54-0 Jacob Oram into the attack - and starts with the first maiden of the Test. A steadying influence, Oram.

2247: 54-0 Cook plays a very loose shot off Gillespie, missing an attempted drive. He drives for a boundary later in the over and the 50 partnership comes up off 100 balls. Cook celebrates by driving another boundary.

"I think Mark Gillespie is doing the right thing by pitching the ball up. Although he went for eight in the over you would say it was honours even."
TMS summariser Mike Selvey

2240: 46-0 Vaughan cops one in the unmentionables and takes a minute or two to regain his breath. He recovers to pull Mills for a boundary. This looks very comfortable in the extreme. Wonder what is going through Vettori's mind right now?

"This pitch is so good I'd fancy a bat against one or two of the great West Indies quicks on this."
TMS summariser Geoff Boycott

2234: 42-0 Gillespie continues and Cook pulls him for a single. Vaughan drives Gillespie and Vettori makes an excellent sliding stop and the England skipper has to settle for three.

Dear me, these best man lines. Laying carpets, making love to the Queen, warm seats...

"I see no reason for questioning the Basin Reserve's being in the middle of a roundabout. There is a wonderful old, old example in England called the Oval."
Guy Burn, Boston, via email

Is the Oval in the middle of a roundabout? I have been there quite a few times and have never noticed. Maybe I need to be a little more vigilant.

2230: 38-0 Vaughan has gone a little quiet, and is now being outscored by Cook 16 to 21. Drinks come onto the field and the first hour has been successfully negotiated - from England's point of view.

2227: 37-0 Gillespie continues, as does England's watchful progress.

"What a lovely day to bat against New Zealand's lovely bowling."
TMS summariser Geoff Boycott

"I remember one old curmudgeonly best man starting the speech for a much younger groom with the immortal words 'Just build yourself a potting shed son, you'll always have a roof over your head then'."
Clive - ending the working day in the USA via email

2222: 35-0 Mills continues, as does England's steady progress. The sun is officially out.

"I am the coach of the Brazilian National Cricket Team. We managed to capitulate for 56 all out against the mighty Belize recently only to go on and rack up 360 in a win against Chile. Based on this, England are going to score about 600!"
Ed Matkin via email

How do you land a job like that? And are they all stylish batsmen with remarkable nicknames who dazzle with their amazing footwork?

2218: 33-0 Mark Gillespie into the attack. Starts by wanging one down the leg side and follows that up with a delivery yards outside the off stump. Why is Gillespie bowling around the wicket? Surely he would be better served slanting the bowl across Cook. Oh, hold on, he beats the outside edge. Gentle applause follows. Just a single to Cook off the over.

(See 2148) "Always start with 'I am sure we would all agree the service today was fantastic, though I did think they could have been a bit quicker with dessert'. Straight away you have everyone on side!"
Jonathan, Canvey Island, via email

2213: 32-0 Cook misses out on a half volley but progress has been steady. The Kiwis look very unhappy about the ball, making protestations to the umpires that fall on deaf ears. A hint of sunshine, that won't please the bowlers either. Though Mills does manage to beat Vaughan's outside edge.

(See 2148) Lots of best man speech jokes flying in. If only I could tell the one about the porn star and the petrol pump.

2208: 31-0 Cook becomes the youngest Englishman to reach 2,000 Test runs. He is in his 48th innings and is aged 23 years and 79 days. Well done you.

"Can you say Happy Birthday to my mate Neil Coman? I'm skiing in California and I can't get hold of him."
Richard via email

Neil - have a great birthday.

2203: 29-0 Cook in on the act, driving a Mills half volley for a sumptuous four. He follows it up with two through midwicket and a couple of leg byes.

"The ball has not done very much. I'd be delighted to be batting."
TMS summariser Geoff Boycott

2200: 21-0 England have negotiated the first half hour of the Test. Vaughan tries to drive Martin through extra cover but the ball flies behind square for a boundary.

(See 2148) "Best line I ever heard from a best man speech was 'Women are like Elephants, interesting to look at but you wouldn't want to own one'. Good luck to my Kiwi cousins." Kipsy, Melbourne, Australia via email

"With regards to the best man speech, the opening line HAS to be 'It has been a beautiful day, even the cake is in tears (tiers)'. That just cannot be beat."
Dale - sitting up in hope of a decent performance.

2155: 17-0 Steady, steady, steady. Cook times the ball beautifully for another couple, though Mills swings one past the outside edge.

2151: 15-0 Vaughan drives behind point for the first boundary of the Test. Mills retorts by beating the bat with one that jags back. The bowler puts in a short one as well.

John Simmonds wants to say hello to everyone at Nero's in Windsor. He is with the Barmy Army in Wellington. Lucky him.

2148: 11-0 Kiwis looking at the ball already, confused faces. Steady enough from England.

"I'm trying to write a best man's speech here, for this weekend! Anyone have any good tips or jokes?"
Rob Via email

Just read out England's scorecard from the second innings of the last Test. Very much a joke.

2142: 9-0 Vaughan works the ball through the covers for two and then whips it through square for another couple. A leg bye and a single to Cook follow.

"I don't think Wellington has ever seen five days without rain, so don't expect a Test match without breaks. Especially starting under dull skies."
Dan, Hamilton, NZ, via email

Thanks for your optimism Dan. Maybe you could tell us a little bit more about the Basin Reserve. I mean, a ground in the middle of a roundabout?

2136: 3-0 Vic Marks has, apparently, spent the last few days tramping. Make of that what you will.

Kyle Mills is swinging the ball. He finds the edge of Cook's bat but it falls short of the slip region. Just a single to Vaughan from the over.

"Kyle Mills was the destroyer in Hamilton and has started pretty well here."
TMS summariser Vic Marks

2134: 2-0 Alistair Cook plays a pretty watchful first over off Chris Martin. The ball seems to be nipping away from the left hander off the seam. Cook pushes the ball into the cover region for a single off the fifth delivery and then Vaughan tucks it off his legs as he moves off the mark as well.

2130: And we're off, which is more than we can say about the Cheltenham Festival.

(See 2125) "A good diversionary tactic for me has been pretending to be a Kiwi. Not the fruit, mind."
Dan via email

2125: Lots of chat that Matthew Hoggard is very unlucky to be dropped. For what it is worth I agree. He has been a consistent performer in recent years, not something you could say about Steve Harmison.

"I'm just starting a long night of work on my dissertation due in tomorrow! Brave move on selection, lets hope the batsman give them something to bowl to!"
Ben, Durham via text on 8111

Maybe you could get in touch with Chrissy to help you out.

"Welcome Paul. I don't know if I can bear this tonight, diversionary tactics needed. Help!"
Chrissy, Notts via email

Any suggestions?

2117: Just to recap the team news - England have dropped Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard, with Stuart Broad and James Anderson coming in.

New Zealand have made one change, with seamer Mark Gillespie replacing off-spinner Jeetan Patel.

And to answer Stephen Brierley - I can reliably inform you that Mark Mitchener has not been 'dropped' but is at the Basin Reserve, no doubt bending the ear of the people in his immediate vicinity. Ben Dirs could, I imagine, be just about anywhere.

2106: NZ skipper Daniel Vettori has won the toss and stuck England in.

"We would have had a bowl," was the verdict of England skipper Michael Vaughan.

Hmm. After the shenanigans of the last Test I'm just hoping that does not mean another abysmal collapse.

2101: Some early chat on the conditions. It is overcast in Wellington and the word is that plenty of the grass that had dominated the chat concerning the pitch has been removed.

2100 GMT: Good evening/afternoon/morning everyone depending on where you are in the world.

I'm on my Test match debut today but I'll be doing my best to bowl some decent lines and hit the right areas. I imagine James Anderson and Stuart Broad will be looking to do likewise after being brought into the team.