This is eye-watering stuff. Trent Boult has got one to nip back in off a good length and strike Ian Bell in a very delicate area. Bell requires a moment to compose himself and the physio rushes on with a bottle of water. Does that help? Bell very nearly perishes off the final ball of the over, just about withdrawing his bat from the line of a very tasty inswinger.

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"Bell does sometimes commit to the big stroke to spin but I like that. England are desperate to get into stumps with this senior pair still in."

Bell, who has done well to get himself going considering his poor recent form, steers Craig into the off side for two.

A huge appeal from Trent Boult as Alastair Cook chases one down the leg side, but there didn't look to be any bat in that. A maiden - the runs are just drying up here for England.

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"We saw Moeen bowl early in the day and there is left-hander in Alastair Cook for New Zealand to target with spin. I will be interested to see how Bell plays Craig. He encourages someone to go over the top as he gives it a bit of flight."

Time for a bit of tweak as Brendon McCullum introduces Mark Craig. Bell knocks him for two through point. Cautious accumulation from England.

Bell sneaks two through point. Trent Boult just hasn't quite looked at the peak of his powers yet, and England are battling.

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"I would always encourage any player who has scored a few low scores to come out and play with intent. You say to yourself, 'rather than prod around I will look to score'. It clears everything out and makes it more simple. You don't worry about the field set either as that distracts you from hitting the ball."

Image source, Getty Images

Matt Henry has bowled beautifully in this match, slipping into Test cricket as smoothly as a silk handkerchief into a breast pocket. Bell flicks him behind square leg for a single.

Image source, PA

Trent Boult is back into the attack, and it's a tight first over, though without any major alarms. A maiden.

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"Ian Bell has come out playing a few strokes which I think is the best way for him to get his form back. he is a better player when he tries to force the bowler with some positivity. The second four was in the air, though, so it will give New Zealand further encouragement."

A primal scream of 'No!' from Henry has he strays onto Ian Bell's pads. You know where that's going. Beautifully clipped into the leg-side outfield by Bell, who is showing real positive intent here. And again Bell finds the gap nicely, flaying one between point and cover for four. Plenty of wide open spaces in the field thanks to McCullum's ultra-attacking fields - can England keep finding them?

Jeremy Coney
Ex-New Zealand captain on BBC Test Match Special

"Stroke of pedigree as Southee searched for the full outswinger. Bell was more orthodox to find the gap in the off-side. He did that successfully and it raced away. It will make Bell feel much better."

Dave Hansford: Easy to criticise England but sometimes you just get a beauty and there's nowt you can do. No rash changes if we lose this test.

Sahil Oberoi: This is incredible bowling in foreign conditions, Anderson & Broad are being schooled at bowling with swing & accuracy.

Lovely shot from Bell, lacing Southee through the covers. England need plenty more of those from him.

Matthew Clark: Unless Cook pulls off a big score, it looks like England will be reliant on their middle order again. Still might not be enough.

Jon Dunn: It's going to take something pretty spectacular to not lose this one from here.

Henry Ellison: Redeem yourself Ian! Pair in Barbados, Failure in the 1st innings and 3 dropped catches. Can't get much worse can it?!

Image source, AP

This partnership is so key for England. Their two most experienced players are at the crease - if New Zealand can part them, they will have landed a real body-blow on their opponents. And Matt Henry so nearly does the trick! Full, swinging in, Cook just pushes at it uppishly and the ball drops just short of Luke Ronchi at mid-on. And then Henry finds the edge, squaring Cook up, the ball dropping just short of the slips. This is an examination.

Jeremy Coney
Ex-New Zealand captain on BBC Test Match Special

"It is interesting, if you feel you are a bit out of nick, two choices occur to you: put up the sandbags or you play freely and try to get to 20 and then start playing. You feel this is the second of those two options from Bell."

Some spell this by Southee, a man who has done plenty of damage to England batting orders in his time. The shape he's getting is gorgeous, curving the ball back into the batsman's pads from a nagging off-stump line. Ian Bell doesn't miss out when the bowler does eventually err, flaying a wide one backward of point.

Rob Meech: New Zealand are a quality side and a pleasure to watch. This two-match series could slip away from us very quickly.

Charles Isere: Got to love McCullum's aggressive field: if Bell & Cook can't make a quick 25 here each before stumps, there's no hope for them.

Merlyn: Really like this New Zealand team. Good attack energy in the field and batting with explosive power. Better side than England.