Relive 1News' live updates of day one of the first Test between the Black Caps and England at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui.
NZL 37/3 - Conway 17, Wagner 4
STUMPS! And that wraps the action for day one of the opening Test and there certainly was plenty of action! A declaration on the opening day, 12 wickets, almost 400 runs and all inside 74 overs of play!
England will be very happy with how today has gone, putting New Zealand on the back foot and every time the hosts have tried to respond, found a counterpunch which leaves them well-placed for day two.
For New Zealand, you can't help but think a big innings from Conway or the like is needed here to punish England's ballsy declaration. They've got the time to build one - they just need the composure.
That's all for us on the live updates. Have a good evening and to those doing it tough in the Hawke's Bay and other regions hit by Cyclone Gabrielle - kia kaha, our thoughts are with you.
NZL trail by 288 runs with seven wickets in hand.
NZL 31/3 - Conway 15*, Wagner 0
WICKET! The declaration is looking really good here. Nicholls falls after poking at a testing length from Anderson. Crawley dives to his right and leaves NZ down three under the lights. Wagner comes out as the nightwatchman.
NZL trail by 294 runs with seven wickets in hand.
NZL 23/2 - Conway 12, Nicholls 0*
WICKET! Williamson is beaten on the inside by Anderson and there's a massive appeal but the umpire is unmoved. Stokes calls for the review and replays have it looking awful close. But Hawk-Eye has it blasting leg stump so the call is reversed and Williamson goes back to the club house.
NZL trail by 302 runs with eight wickets in hand.
NZL 21/1 - Conway 10*, Williamson 6
Edged and put down! Conway is dragged forward and nicks it in textbook fashion but Crawley can't take it. Looks like he simply closed his fingers too soon. This England team is all about pace!
NZL trail by 304 runs with nine wickets in hand.
NZL 10/1 - Conway 5, Williamson 0
WICKET! Latham's gone for one! Stokes makes an early change, bringing in Robinson for Anderson and it works to perfection. An inside edge into the thigh pad pops up and it's snapped up by Pope at short leg. England get their first under the lights.
NZL trail by 315 runs with nine wickets in hand.
NZL 8/0 - Latham 1, Conway 3*
If you really want to know how these sides contrast - it took the Black Caps 54 overs to secure a maiden today when bowling. England got their first maiden with the first over of the chase. Very trick overcast conditions to bat in tonight so you can't blame them for the slow approach after the fireworks earlier today.
Still, Conway and Latham both get off the ground and a four byes help them along.
NZL trail by 317 runs with 10 wickets in hand.
NZL 0/0 - Latham 0*, Conway 0
Out come Latham and Conway to start the chase. Anderson and Broad have the ball for England. We have around 50-60 minutes of play left for the day. England no doubt want to finish it with a statement. The Black Caps want to make good on a fine final session so far.
NZL trail by 325 runs with 10 wickets in hand.
ENG 325/9 - Robinson 15, Anderson 0
ENGLAND DECLARE! Following Leach's wicket, Stokes swiftly calls the declaration and senses a chance to strike in this awkward time of the evening with little over an hour left in the day. Is it conventional? Of course it isn't. Is it exciting. OF COURSE IT IS!
Wagner finishes as New Zealand's best with figures of 4-82 but some credit should go to Southee as well for some fine spells to take two wickets [and the only maiden over of the innings!].
Stay with us, we'll be back shortly for the start of NZ's first innings... on day one.
What is going on?!
ENG 325/9 - Robinson 15, Anderson 0
WICKET! Leach skies one as well but unlike the others, it's straight up! Latham is under it with a helmet on and he bobbles it for a moment before eventually making the catch. Couple of giggles from his teammates but they've got the wicket.
ENG 319/8 - Robinson 10, Leach 0*
WICKET! AND MAKE THAT THREE DISMISSALS IN THREE OVERS! Wagner back on the attack and he's got Foakes! Skies the ball off another short delivery to a back-tracking Williamson and he does well under the lights. Eight wickets, 319 runs, just 56 overs - are we sure this isn't an ODI???
ENG 305/7 - Foakes 34, Robinson 0*
WICKET! The Black Caps go back-to-back again. Wagner gives the ball to Kuggeleijn and he picks up a wicket in the following over. Broad goes for the big pull on a short ball but he sends it Conway at deep square leg. Conway with a bit of work under the floodlights but does well and gets the reward.
Another twist in this cracking first day!
ENG 298/6 - Foakes 33, Broad 0*
WICKET! And Wagner shuts down Brook! It's slightly unlucky for the Englishman as he's bottom-edged it back into the stumps but Wagner is pumped regardless. Departs for 89 off 81 deliveries.
ENG 294/5 - Brook 88, Foakes 30
There's a pause in play after a Wagner bouncer has got Brook square in the temple. It's not pretty and Wagner has gone straight in to check on him. All class.
There's some checks but Brook seems fine and will soldier on.
ENG 280/5 - Brook 79, Foakes 28
And we're back with Wagner in the action for the Black Caps.
ENG 279/5 - Brook 79, Foakes 27
DINNER! What started as such a positive session for the Black Caps has been undone by a superb innings so far from Harry Brook. Despite his teammates effectively donating three wickets to the Kiwis, he's soldiered on at the other end and has an impressive 79 runs from just 64 balls.
The Black Caps had all the momentum coming out of the break after their two quick wickets and the later dismissal of Stokes but the bowling attack has gone wayward again and seems to lack a plan - except for Southee who has been pretty consistent today.
To put it in perspective, the Black Caps have only bowled one maiden over in their 48 overs so far today - and it was the second-to-last over before dinner. That shows you how free-flowing England have been and where the Black Caps need to tighten up.
Stick around, we'll be back in an hour or so for the final session of the day.
ENG 224/5 - Brook 51, Foakes 1*
FIFTY! Some good news for England in this session finally after the Black Caps have wrestled their way back into this - Brook brings up a well-earned 50 with a ramp over the keeper. That's his fifth 50 in seven Test innings. Can he be the one to get England back on track?
ENG 209/5 - Brook 37*, Foakes 0
WICKET! Just when you thought Stokes might be settling in to stabalise things, Kuggeleijn comes up with the goods for his first Test wicket! He's hit it well enough but it's directed straight to one of the few men actually set up on the leg side which is Latham and he nabs it above his head.
ENG 159/4 - Stokes 1, Brook 6
WICKET! BACK-TO-BACK WICKETS IN BACK-TO-BACK OVERS! Wagner in on the action and he's got Root gone for 14. Root tries another tricky shot with a reverse sweep but he's got this one all wrong and sends it straight to the slips for Mitchell to take. In comes the English skipper.
Well, well, well...
ENG 154/3 - Brook 2, Root 14*
WICKET! Southee snags another! His consistency pays off as he sends Pope packing for 42. Another fine spell of pressure from the Black Caps skipper finally gets Pope as he offers a fat edge to the slips and Latham takes it. Another well-set innings foiled.
ENG 139/2 - Root 13, Pope 31*
We're back into the action and three balls into the session Root has gone for the ramp and played it perfectly for four. Absolute class and confidence and even Wagner is grinning at it.
ENG 134/2 - Root 9, Pope 30*
TEA! That wraps the first session with a strong start from England. Tickner has breathed some life back into the Black Caps with Duckett's wicket but despite that, still a session for the visitors who were sent in to bat by captain Boult.
Stay with us, we'll be back for the second session.
ENG 117/2 - Root 0, Pope 23*
WICKET! Tickner with his first career Test wicket and it's a huge one for New Zealand! Duckett looking so comfortable but he's mistimed his drive attempt. Bracewell in the action again takes it easy enough near midwicket. He departs for a 68-ball 84.
ENG 106/1 - Pope 20*, Duckett 76
And that's 100 up for England in under 16 overs. New Zealand's bowling attack has lost its bite very quickly here and Duckett is making the absolute most of it. He's firing with a 130 strike rate at the moment while Pope continues to play the supportive role at the other end.
Something needs to change here because right now it's all one way traffic.
ENG 77/1 - Pope 12, Duckett 57*
FIFTY! Duckett isn't swayed by the early departure of his opening partner and he has picked apart this early attack. He's living up to the hype of this McCullum-led England side and has 50 off just 36 balls. He's had 11 boundaries already and looks well settled.
ENG 30/1 - Pope 6, Duckett 17*
Tickner brought into the attack early for Wagner who doesn't seem right. A decent first over on debut as he gives up just the three from it.
It's not so positive for Wagner though who has now been taken off the field for an unknown reason. Will Young is the 12th man.
ENG 18/1 - Pope 0, Ducket 12*
WICKET! Bracewell makes amends! Southee off to a superb start and he's rewarded in just the third over of the day. The NZ skipper has been relentless with his line to start and eventually it breaks Crawley. A thick edge goes to third sleep and Bracewell goes low to his left, keeping it in hand this time.
ENG 17/0 - Crawley 4, Ducket 11*
NO WICKET! Wagner with a perfect inswinger at superb length and he beats Crawley, lipping the back pad before heading through to the stumps. There's immediate celebrations but it's quickly silenced as replays show his foot is clearly in front of the crease for a no ball.
To add salt to the wound, Wagner proceeds to give up the first two boundaries of the match with Duckett getting England's scoreboard well and truly running.
ENG 3/0 - Crawley 3*, Duckett
Zac Crawley and Ben Duckett make their way out to the middle and Tim Southee has the ball first for the Kiwis as the Barmy Army get going.
Second ball and IT'S DROPPED AT THIRD SLIP! Crawley comes down the wicket looking to nullify the swing but there's an outside edge. Bracewell diving to his right can't bring it in with the one-handed effort. It would've been a good take if he had.
Three for the first over, Wagner coming in from the other end.
1:55pm
The teams are on the field and along with the black armbands, there's a moment of silence for the lives lost. They're joined by those present on the banks in standing for the moment and the hats are off.
The anthems follow soon after, starting with "God Save the King" then "God Defend New Zealand".
Right, it's time for some cricket!
1:40pm
Both teams will be wearing black armbands in memory of those who have lost their lives to Cyclone Gabrielle. A touch of class to start the afternoon.
We'll be underway with the first ball in around 20 minutes.
1:30pm: Toss
Tim Southee wins the toss for New Zealand and elects to bowl, noting the pitch has "browned off" quite a bit since yesterday with preparations for the ground a bit more difficult this week. There is still a bit of green to it though.
Southee confirms Scott Kuggeleijn will make his Test debut alongside the already-confirmed Blair Tickner. The join Southee and Neil Wagner in the pace attack for the Kiwis.
Stokes jokes he's glad Southee won it as he didn't know what he would've gone with had the call gone his way.
1:25pm: Weather
Despite Gabrielle sweeping through at the start of the week, we're looking good in the Mount this afternoon for some day-night Test action! There are chances of some drizzle late in the day but we'll worry about that later.
Toss in a few minutes.
1:15pm: Preview
England cricket coach Brendon McCullum will bring Bazball back to its birthplace in a two-test series against New Zealand which begins this afternoon in Mount Maunganui.
McCullum devised the eponymous strategy of all out attack during his highly-successful term as New Zealand captain when he used it to upend the Black Caps’ traditional conservative approach and underdog mindset.
The policy, which hadn’t yet been named for “Baz” McCullum, largely reflected his own nature as one of the sport's most attacking batters and his approach to life as a natural bon vivant. McCullum figured if somebody was going to play cricket, it should be fun.
“In any job you do you want to have fun, or else what’s the point in doing it?” he said. “We get one crack at life. If you’ve got some skills, aspirations and dreams why would you not live those out and have a smile on your face?”
Bazball has flourished since McCullum transplanted it in England among a team of kindred spirits, willing to risk losing in order to chase a win. England was down on its luck when McCullum became coach but now has won nine of its last 10 test matches.
McCullum now can display his refined version of Bazball to a New Zealand audience which saw it in its infancy. The move to the pink ball format today hasn’t pleased all members of the England team: fast bowler Ollie Robinson who is coming to grips with the pink Kookaburra ball called it “gimmicky,”
“They’re trying to get crowds in and change the game a little bit,” Robinson said. “But the way England are playing test cricket at the moment, I don’t think that needs to happen. We could stick to how we’re going and we’re entertaining people as we are so I’m not sure if it’s necessary really.”
Preparations for both teams have been affected by Cyclone Gabrielle which ravaged Auckland and New Zealand’s northern region and east coast, leading to the announcement of national state of emergency. The storm brought heavy rain and wind to the Mount Maunganui area, forcing teams to practice indoors.
New Zealand-born Ben Stokes who leads England is very much McCullum’s protege in the Bazball era and will again pursue an attacking strategy in the coming series. England has lost five of its six previous pink ball tests but Stokes is confident of a positive result this week, weather permitting.
“I’m sure we’ll still come up with a way to hopefully force a result regardless of how much time is taken away (by weather),” Stokes said.
McCullum has kept England’s preparation relatively light, spending the first few days of the tour in the South Island resort of Queenstown and taking the team to the races on Saturday to see his horse, Defibrilate, run in a Group One race at Te Rapa. It was among the favorites but finished fourth.
New Zealand’s preparation has been troubled, made so by bad backs and babies and by travel disruptions which delayed the arrival in Mount Maunganui of some players. The fast bowlers Kyle Jamieson and Matt Henry both are out of the match, Jamieson because of a back injury and Henry because of the birth of his first child.
Two uncapped players, Jacob Duffy and Scott Kuggeleijn, have been called in as replacements as the New Zealand selectors elected not to call up the uncontracted Trent Boult, who lives close by and is available.
“It’s been decided since he gave up his contract that we would give priority to contracted players,” New Zealand coach Gary Stead said. “We discussed it internally but our decision was not to go with Trent on this occasion.”
England has named the 36-year-old swing bowler Stuart Broad in its match XI for his first first-class match since September. He joins James Anderson and Robinson in the pace attack.
As Gabrielle heads away to the east, the prospect of a major weather disruption eases. A few showers may fall on day one but the rest of the test should be played in sunny and warm conditions.
Squads
New Zealand (from): Tom Latham, Will Young, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell, Michael Bracewell, Tim Southee (captain), Neil Wagner, Scott Kuggeleijn, Jacob Duffy, Blair Tickner, Ish Sodhi.
England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Ben Foakes, Stuart Broad, Ollie Robinson, Jack Leach, Jimmy Anderson
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