New Zealand make hay against butterfingered England

This was a return of the old England. Some poor fielding added up to a day of missed opportunities that leaves New Zealand in control of the Test.

The decision to bowl first on a greenish pitch by Ben Stokes looked aggressive but spoke of a lack of confidence in his batting and New Zealand showed the resolve that made them Test champions, recovering from the loss of Kane Williamson overnight to Covid to move along at a good tempo to 318 for four.

Daryl Mitchell backed up his Lord’s century with another fine innings, 81 not out, and added an unbroken 149 with Tom Blundell, the pair reprising their partnership of the first Test.

England missed five chances in the slips – three drops, one edge that flew through a vacant gap and a timid failure to go for a chance off Mitchell with the second new ball that was the antithesis of Stokes's demand of positivity.

Mitchell was missed two times. He was dropped on three by Joe Root and Zak Crawley failed to move for an edge on 71 off Stuart Broad that had him howling at the skies, his Trent Bridge return with England an unhappy one with nought for 74 off 18 overs.

The pitch is green but very dry and will deteriorate over the next few days so batting last will be a real challenge. England will also have to go out there some time on Saturday with a top order lacking confidence and facing scoreboard pressure. It is the kind of test they have failed countless times over the past two years and Brendon McCullum will learn more about his players this week than he did at Lord’s.

Bowling first rarely comes off for England. Under Root and Alastair Cook they won just five times after inserting the opposition but lost on 11 occasions, with the risk averse Broad and Anderson not relishing the