When Ian Bell trudged off after the third ball of the day, who would have predicted it ending like this? Take a bow Cook, Root and Stokes. They kept New Zealand at bay, turned the tide and then took the game to the tourists.
Cook was coolness personified, Root his classy self and Stokes brutally brilliant. They have put England in charge and with a chance of pushing for the unlikeliest of victories. On top of that, Alastair Cook is 41 runs away from becoming England's leading run-scorer in Test cricket.
How can you possibly miss day five? We'll see you again tomorrow at 10:30 BST.
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HarlowSSP: Great day of 'traditional' test cricket; no sledging, gamesmanship, mention of KP, controversy or silly send offs!
When will England declare?
Ben Stokes on England's possible declaration: "We haven't spoken about it. wouldn't want to say what the plans are because I don't have a clue. Hopefully we can bat on tomorrow and stick them in."
"When Cook does his sums he's got 90 overs. If he takes 30 overs to bat, that's all they'll bowl before lunch, and gets another 100 runs they're going to be 400 on, so that's 400 in 60 overs. He daren't leave them less with McCullum. I don't think he's going to give them much of a chance."
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Player reaction
England centurion Ben Stokes on playing entertaining cricket: "The number one goal is to win games of cricket.
"But the guys upstairs are all very positive and entertaining cricketers. So when guys like Gaz, Rooty and Jos get in, expect to see some fireworks."
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Highest fourth-innings chases at Lord's
Whether England declare or not on Monday, New Zealand face a stiff test if they are to win this Test, given that only one side have chased more than 282 for victory in the fourth innings...
344-1: West Indies v England, 1984
282-3: England v New Zealand, 2004
218-3: England v New Zealand, 1965
193-5: England v West Indies, 2012
191-8: England v West Indies, 2000
Player reaction
More from Ben Stokes on TMS: "It is a great day personally but more importantly we are in a good position as a team. I got close in the first innings and was nervous but to get over the line was brilliant."
On batting at six: "It is somewhere I want to be and capitalise on the opportunity I have. I have started well, hopefully that can continue. You can't live on what has happened in this Test, I have to deliver every time.
"I think it is just another game of cricket. The things I've done for Durham have got me here so I don't think I need to change anything. I back myself.
"The middle order is very positive. Rooty [Joe Root] is always scoring 60 or 70 per 100 balls. I like to play like that, so do Mo [Moeen Ali] and Jossy [Jos Buttler]. No one puts pressure on us."
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Matthew Clark: Criticism of Cook is crazy. 'Didn't score quickly at the end'. He's anchored all innings and made 150, allowing others to play.
"I'd like to see Cook turn to Stokes as first change bowler rather than always see him as the fourth seamer. We might now see him blossom as a bowler after 90 and a hundred with the bat."
Player reaction
Ben Stokes, who scored 101 in 92 balls, on Sky Sports: "We're ahead of the game and every one in the dressing room is in a really good mood.
"It was good. I rode my luck a little bit but you need a little bit to succeed. Things just went my way all day.
"I was pretty nervous when I was in the nineties again but to get that one away was a pretty special feeling, and to do it at Home of cricket was fantastic - and something I'll never forget.
"I felt I've got this far, I might as well keep having a hack. Things paid off."
"When you can bat and bowl, a la Botham, it frees up your mind, you're not totally dependent on one. Stokes didn't do anything daft, when the ball was up he hit it. He expressed himself and if you can get a proper all-rounder it gives the team the opportunity to play another bowler. It gives you options which we haven't always had."
"Tricky little decision for Cook perhaps, when to declare. They'll surely have a chat about that over a bit of dinner tonight but what a fantastic day ahead."
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Text 81111
Matt: It may not come down to a declaration. NZ still a very good bowling outfit that could come back refreshed tomorrow and knock England over.
"Cook and Root played beautifully. Cook is in top form, he is meeting the ball late and the ball is going to mid-on and mid-off with a full face of the bat. He played that period of 40 minutes when it was tough and they were coming at them very well. Root is almost in too good form, and they fought off the challenge of the new ball. Once they got through that it looked easy."
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Michael Smith: Just love the way the New Zealanders play their cricket - positive, talented and very sporting.
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Reidar Vasband: Cook, great batsman no doubt but rubbish captain; 24 runs off the last 10 overs today after having our foot on their throats!
"It was an uplifting day for English cricket, for the team, for the captain, everyone. They could have gone under today. There have been times when the opposition seamers would have nipped a couple out and it would have been an England loss."
"The first time Cook has batted all day since the Oval Test of 2012."
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Mick in Rotherham: England are 100 short of a declaration total right now. An overnight declaration is almost throwing the game to NZ - too much to risk!
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Tom Shackleton: We need to crack on and allow another 50-80 runs before a declaration. Let's make it safe then attack with the ball tomorrow.
Eng 429-6 (Cook 153, Moeen 19)
Moeen has to fend off another over of challenging short balls from Southee. New Zealand end the day with a bizarre field, dominated by off-side fielders. There's a short cover, a short extra-cover, a short everything. Moeen swings wildly at the last ball but does not nick it and England end 295 runs ahead. What a superb day of Test cricket.
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Richard Millard: All those saying Cook should declare now will no doubt call for him to be sacked if he did and NZ chased down the runs.
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Rob Hand: The odd shower tomorrow and a cheeky declaration at 10:50 please.
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chipperhull: First rule of any declaration is not to give the opposition a sniff. The 2nd is remember Greenidge in 84...
Eng 429-6 (England lead by 295)
An exciting and gripping day of Test cricket is drawing to a close with a tame whimper. McCullum sticks in a slip and leg slip in an attempt to bag a final wicket before the close but Cook offers a brick wall to Craig. We'll have one more over.
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John: Dear Chef, we will excuse a defeat if there was the possibility of a win.
Eng 429-6 (Cook 153, Moeen 19)
It feels like an awful long time since the boost that Bell wicket gave New Zealand. They have been ground down, battered and bruised by England since. Southee opts largely for shorter stuff, which Ali has to duck under.
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'Arsenal Guvnor': What is Cook doing? They should be attacking every ball to build lead quickly and get out! Game has draw written all over it.
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Eng 428-6
Maybe two or three overs left today? Craig changes to the Nursery End. Just the one from it. All eyes on Cook now. How brave is he going to be with a declaration? It is unlikely top come tonight, but will he stick New Zealand straight in tomorrow? Experience suggests he will be on the conservative side.
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Adam Wheeler: Whatever the result of this Test, both sides have shown character and mettle during parts of the match.
Amen, Adam.
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Simon Parker: Why do people have a go at Cook for negative declarations? I very much doubt it's his decision alone.
Jamie Bisson: As soon as Cook gets his double hundred, England should declare.
Eng 427-6 (England lead by 293)
Southee is back, no doubt still smarting from the mauling given to him by Stokes earlier in the session. Moeen takes him for four more with a drive through backward point from the second ball of the over. Three bouncers and a yorker follow.
"Fantastic round of applause for the England captain's 150. Great knock Alastair Cook.
150 for Cook
Eng 423-6
After surviving an lbw call, born more from desperation than belief, from Boult, Cook turns one to leg to bring him two runs and take him past 150. The England players on the balcony to a man rise to their feet, as do the remaining fans in Lord's. A superb knock. A reaffirmation of the skipper's class with a bat in his hands.
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Howard Horner: We must remember today when, in the future, Stokes' aggressive style gets him out early - just let him play his natural game.
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Eng 421-6
Craig is getting through some overs for New Zealand. He doesn't pose much of a threat but he keeps England in check with a maiden. Very subdued feel about this now. Thoughts are already starting to turn to tomorrow.
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David Worsfold: Cook's batting from the start has been just what England needed yet there are still people moaning. Unbelievable.
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Joshua Habergham: What's the thinking on how early to get to Lord's tomorrow then?
Eng 421-6 (Cook 149, Moeen 15)
Boult veers too straight and Cook is able to flick it down to the vacant fine-leg boundary for four. England continue to make progress towards that significant 300-run lead.
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Post update
Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at Lord's
"Slightly subdued at Lord's now, as if we've had our excitement for the day. In essence, the Test is now set, it just depends if New Zealand can quickly bowl England out or the home side carry on to a declaration tomorrow. Then, the final drama begins."
"I don't think they'll declare now. It's a brave new world until Martin Guptill gets 150 and Brendon McCullum gets 200! This is the beauty of the game."
Eng 415-6 (England lead by 281)
Cook shows that when the ball is there to be hit he will have a go. He slightly miscues off Craig, though, with an outside edge that brings him three.
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Ian Bentley: Only chance to win is to be bowled out as Cook is too cautious to make a challenging declaration.
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Stuart Mitchell: A 350+ lead and I'm getting confident of an England win. Pitch is starting to turn a bit and can't see Ali doing as badly as Craig.
Eng 410-6 (Cook 140, Moeen 13)
Cook is now 54 runs away from passing Graham Gooch's record 8,900 Test runs for England. He is almost denied the chance of reaching that tally today courtesy of a Boult ball that wobbles in the air, pitches on a length and sways past both outside edge and stumps. A beauty. There is still life in this.
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Jack Byrne: Next 20 overs will show how positive Cook is trying to be, are we trying to win this or just bat New Zealand out of the game?
Eng 409-6 (Cook 139, Moeen 13)
Moeen moves into double figures with a chip through mid-off that draws unfulfilled calls for a catch and then a boundary through mid-on from a Craig full-toss.
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Mark Higginson: Cook has created the conditions for Root and Stokes to play their shots. Great player.
DrHolmes: Moeen Ali walking in at 6 down, is a delightful sight. Promising future ahead for English cricket!
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Eng 402-6
England's run-scoring is considerably more modest than an hour ago. Understandable. This lead is far from decisive. Henry continues to pepper Moeen with some short stuff, one of which is so wild it brings England a wide.
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Eng 400-6 (England lead by 266)
Andrew Strauss is laying down the law to a colleague in one of the boxes at HQ. Meanwhile, on the pitch, England continue to boss matters. Moeen goes aerial with a daring lofted drive to claim four off Craig over extra cover. It brings up England's 400. Craig slams the next ball into Moeen's pad but despite a big appeal, it was clearly hitting outside the line.
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Eng 396-6 (Cook 137, Moeen 3)
Henry is a personable young man, he's beaming away like a young Hugh Grant. But a debut at Lord's with your team in with a good chance is not a bad place to be. He may have brought his hundred up in terms of runs conceded but he is still probing outside Cook's off-stump. Remarkable resilience from the England skipper though, he collects another single and remains undefeated.
"Tom Latham, standing in for BJ Watling, I reckon that's the first time a stand-in wicketkeeper has taken five dismissals in a Test match."
Eng 394-6 (lead by 260)
Craig plugging away from the Pavilion End. Moeen gets off the mark by lofting him down the ground, plenty of height on it but it only goes for two. We have a possible 15 overs left today and so far the rain has not returned.
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Luke Bailey: Cook benefiting from no ODIs. Broad, Anderson and possibly Bell should think about going down the same route.
Jon Dunn: Not sure I understand the logic of Buttler coming in ahead of Ali in this situation.
Eng 391-6 (Cook 135, Moeen 0)
It is starting to look a bit gloomy again, but the stands remain full. This is too gripping. Cook pulls a short Henry ball to the mid-wicket boundary for a single. Moeen has to deal with a forward short leg and has to dodge out of the way of a bit of a snorter that rises past his nose.
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Philip Pugh: An England win is still the least likely result but is more probable than when Bell was out this morning.
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Eng 390-6
Stuart Broad is supping on an energy drink in the changing room. I suppose that stuff does give you the runs. Not the kind Broady is after, though. Craig keeps England to a single run. Moeen yet to score.
"This game is poised. We've been talking about the choices England have, but not a lot of confident runs are left after this for them so they have to be a little bit careful."
Indian Premier League final update
Chennai Super Kings are chasing 203 to beat Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League final.
Lendl Simmons hit 68 off 45 balls, Rohit Sharma 50 off 26 and Kieron Pollard 36 off 18 in Mumbai's total of 202-5 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
Chennai are 14-0 three overs into their reply.
Eng 389-6 (Cook 133, Moeen 0)
The new man is Moeen Ali. Not a bad man to have at number eight. Three slips and a gully are in but Henry digs it short and Latham dives to claim. All eyes on Alastair Cook again now. The game is poised nicely.
"Buttler just following a little bit of movement in the air first of all and then from the slope and it was a villainous little edge through to the keeper."
WICKET
Buttler c Latham b Henry 14 (389-6)
Henry does for Buttler before the wicketkeeping powerhouse can really get going. The delivery is short of a length and moves away a touch to clip a slim nick off the edge of Buttler's bat and carrying to Latham. England still have work to do.
"Cook has been very organised. Those overs at the start of the day, which were very testing, he saw all that off and now he has cashed in."
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Eng 388-5
Cook comes out of his shell with a flourishing drive that sends a wide and full Southee ball racing to the rope. The skipper was able to play a holding role while Stokes was on the charge, but is this a sign that he is going to take a more proactive role with Buttler? If he does, he will have an equally positive partner, which Buttler illustrates with a boundary of his own through cover.
"Buttler makes things happen and New Zealand will certainly want to see the back of him."
Eng 376-5 (England lead by 245)
Brendon McCullum is still smiling. Of course he is, that's his way. He is the eternal optimist. Which is precisely why England can't think the hard work is done. Buttler opens his boundary account with a lofted drive over and through extra cover off Henry. He is denied another courtesy of McCullum's dive and stop to prevent his outside edge through cover reaching the rope. Cook drives three runs of his own.
"Gilchrist used to do that all the time for Australia with his team in trouble, smash it around for a couple of hours and put them on top. Ben Stokes has just done that for England."
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Thomas Measures: To think you get Stokes out, and then see Buttler coming to the crease.....exciting times for England.
Eng 369-5
You suspect there is only one topic making up the Lord's hum at the moment; that innings by Ben Stokes. Inevitably, England have lost momentum since he departed as Cook and Buttler consolidate and go again. Southee is back at the Pavilion End and goes for just the one run. Time for some drinks.
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Herman Eutic: Ben Stokes could actually run a seminar entitled: "Audacity in Batting: Fours, sixes, and excitement".
Bertie Huburn: What an innings from Stokes, so good to watch positive cricket in the middle order!
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Eng 368-5 (Buttler 2, Cook 124)
Lets not forget the dynamic of the game here. England lead by 233, with five wickets remaining. There is still work to do. New man Jos Buttler is more than capable of matching the hitting of Stokes but first he must acclimatise. He gets off the mark with a dab into cover off a Henry delivery.
"He's brought a rather drab afternoon to life. They talk about the future of English cricket, reconnecting with people, well there's one very good reason."
WICKET
Stokes c Taylor b Craig 101 (Eng 364-5)
Stokes' brilliant innings is over as he looks to swipe one to cow and clips an edge to Ross Taylor at slip off Craig's final ball of the over. It is sad to see him go but his part is played. It is one of the most brutal Test innings this ground has ever seen. HQ rises as one to applaud what is sure to be a prominent member of England's future for some time to come. Like Joe Root, I salute you, sir.
"Paul Farbrace was the guy that moved Stokes to number six, he deserves a huge amount of credit, he has given him responsibility and told him to go out and play his natural game."
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Paul Clarkson: Stoke score 6 - Stokes hits some more.
If you didn't know, Stoke beat Liverpool 6-1 in Steven Gerrard's final game on the last weekend of the Premier League season.
Eng 363-4 (Cook 121, Stokes 101)
Henry is unable to find a way through Cook, who sees off four and nicks a single off the fifth.
Post update
Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at Lord's
"These are scenes that will live long in the memory. Stokes punched the air and looked to the sky, Lord's erupted and Alastair Cook sprinted to embrace English cricket's new hero. There was tears from a woman I think might be Stokes' girlfriend and handshakes from at least five of the New Zealanders. The best moment, though, was Joe Root's salute, greeted by a huge cheer. Are you watching Marlon Samuels?"
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Charlie Rhodes: @benstokes38 is a serious class act! I'd put money on him taking a few last innings wickets too! He's on fire!
Woody Harrison: Amazing batting from Stokes! Someone needs to tell him it's a test match not a T20.
"The whole game has been tremendous for Test cricket. It shows if you have a mindset of attack you can put quality teams like New Zealand under pressure."
Eng 362-4 (England lead by 228)
New Zealand look lost for ideas, which is not something you say often about a Brendon McCullum team. Mark Craig is back into the attack but the England pair work him around for a couple.
"I can't tell you how good an innings that is. To look so much in control has been extraordinary."
100 for Stokes
Eng 360-4
Well played Ben Stokes. Short, full, it doesn't matter where they pitch them. Henry goes full but the Durham man punches it down the ground for four to take him to 99. He then works one away for a single off the last ball and and HQ erupts. It was going to have to be something special to eclipse Alastair Cook's century today. That is exactly what this is. Joe Root stands and salutes him from the balcony.
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Scorecard update
England 353-4 (92 overs) - lead by 219 runs
Batsmen: Cook 118*, Stokes 95*
Fall of wickets: 14-1 (Lyth 12), 25-2 (Ballance 0), 74-3 (Bell 29) 232-4 (Root 84)
Bowling figures: Boult 25-5-62-1, Southee 24-3-114-2, Henry 21-3-79-1, Craig 18-1-72-0, Anderson 3-0-13-0, Williamson 1-0-2-0
Jack Blackburn: Ben Stokes: this is one of the best innings I've ever seen live. Just audacious, dominant and supreme.
Rob Meech: Ben Stokes is showing what a superb cricketer he could become. Not the finished article, but the ingredients are there.
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Eng 353-4 (England lead by 219)
Cook was on 98 when Stokes came out to bat. He is now on 118 and, after this latest over from Boult, Stokes has 95. It is one of the most audacious, brutal Test innings of recent times by an England player and it is leaving some Kiwi bowlers with increasingly ugly figures.
Post update
Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at Lord's
"It's thrilling, hairs-on-the-back-of-the-neck, edge-of-the-seat, box-office stuff from Ben Stokes, entertainment that this whole crowd is invested in. See ball, hit ball, with every boundary cheered more loudly than the last. Flintoff-esque?"
"This is wonderful. The cricket over the last four days has been fantastic to watch but this last hour from Ben Stokes has surpassed that. They're dancing in the stands."
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Jeffrey Yeung: Great shots from Stokes but I hope he settles down and get a 100, he deserves it after these two great innings he has played.
Fi: Isn't Test cricket like this fab? Tense and exciting!
Eng 350-4 (Stokes 93, Cook 117)
What was that definition of madness again? Southee digs in another short ball that Stokes pulls to the point boundary and straight up one of the drainage pipes. The ball retrieved, Southee digs in another short ball that Stokes puts into the stand. England's number six shows the ability that underpins his aggression with the best shot of the lot to drive a fuller ball straight past the bowler and down for four more. That is 37 off the last two Southee overs. It is Twenty20 stuff and absolutely brilliant.
Eng 333-4
These two batsmen are proving to be a superb pairing of styles and temperament. Stokes is taking the game to New Zealand, with Cook solidly supporting him. Silk and steel. It is the more of the latter in this over as Cook flat-bats Boult.
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Final day ticket news
Now seems a good time for this... tickets for the final day will be available at the North Gate from 09:00 BST - priced £20 for adults, £10 for over-65s and free for under-16s (cash only). Could be a great day in prospect too.
gilbo: A lead of 350 before even thinking of declaring.
Eng 331-4 (Stokes 77, Cook 117)
Ben Stokes is on fire. Southee tries to bounce him out three times. The first he completely batters into the Tavern, the second he gets lucky with as sub fielder Doug Bracewell at deep square leg lets it drop through his hands for another maximum, and the third he pulls fine for four. It is a good time to be an England player or fan now. The team are on top and enjoying themselves. And it is not often we have been able to say that in recent years.
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Merlyn: I really do love this New Zealand team. I'm currently checking my heritage to see if I can consider switching allegiances.
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Eng 311-4
Such is the power of Stokes that even a jab can bring him four. He digs out a full Boult ball and sends it racing away down the ground for four. 44 of his 59 runs have come in fours. He really is a punisher. He should have a big skull on his shirt.
"I think a big part of this partnership has been just dropping and running and rotating the strike."
Eng 307-4 (Stokes 55, Cook 116)
Review survived, England's pair keep the scoreboard ticking. The lead is not over 170. Cracking Test match, this. And England are moving in to a very positive position with firepower in reserve.
Post update
It is not a no-ball. Cook didn't hit it, but impact is 'umpire's call' as he was just outside the line. It is a clear reminder to Cook and England that they can't be complacent here. New Zealand's attack still has some tricks up the sleeve.
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Umpire review
Cook is trapped in front going back to a Southee ball that swings back dramatically and slams into his pads. Is it hitting, though?
"Stokes has carried on from the first innings. He came in and stamped his authority on the game. They stay hit when he hits them."
50 for Stokes
Eng 303-4
Well played Ben Stokes. A second 50 of the match is brought up in just 57 balls. he has carried on from where he left off before bizarrely leaving that ball from Craig to be dismissed for 92. He celebrates his latest milestone with a well-timed drive through point for four.
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Eng 297-4 (England lead by 163)
Stokes makes it 48 runs from 53 balls with a quick single off Southee's latest over to give the more conservative Cook the strike. The skipper drops the shutters and doesn't give New Zealand a sniff.
"This is why it's a good pitch because the bowlers feel with a good ball there is something in it for them, but if batsmen can get in there are runs for them, you don't get bogged down because the ball doesn't come on to the bat."
Eng 295-4 (Stokes 47, Cook 113)
Boult is not deprived the new ball for long as he replaces Henry at the Pavilion End. It doesn't halt Stokes' momentum, though, as the number six plants his foot and slaps a wide one over point for four. It is your classic holder and goer partnership between Cook and Stokes. There are umbrellas and macs going on around the ground in response to a light drizzle. This won't help New Zealand's efforts to keep the new ball fresh. Nor will Stokes knocking the case off it.
Post update
Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at Lord's
"Very dark at HQ, moisture hangs in the air. It feels like a time to be bowling, especially when there's a new ball in hand. England, though, continue to find the boundary with regularity, the crowd keeping warm by applauding and cheering each blow to the fence."
"If England bat all day they are going to be in a decent position 250 or 260 on. If they get up to 280 that won't be easy to get. Some of these smaller totals create a lot of pressure."
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Cameron Bashir: Currently more nervous about the new ball than I am about exams.
Jack Allum: Scoring rate slowing considerably for England. We need to keep pressure on NZ bowlers.
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Eng 288-4
A new ball is a potent weapon, but it can come at a cost. If you don't get it right, especially against an aggressor like Stokes, the cherry will pop sweetly off the blade. Stokes slaps Southee's back-of-a-length first backward of square for four, hammers his third down the ground for another boundary and steers his fourth to backward square again for a third. Southee then beats the outside edge with a superb ball and has to use his boot to stop another four from Stokes' drive down the ground from his last ball. It is all happening.
Trent Boult looks like Brendon McCullum has just spat on his kitten as he is told he won't be taking the next over. Matt Henry is given a chance to shine instead but he suffers at the bat of Cook, courtesy of a lovely drive through cover. He then slings down a wide that beats the diving Latham to gift England a couple.
"The next hour is key, and if we get through it we're on our way, or if Southee and Boult can get it in good areas. If they don't get it right you can score quickly."
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Eng 269-4 (England lead by 135)
Tim Southee returns to take charge of the new ball. Immediately, the sound as it strikes the willow is a firmer clunk. The New Zealand seamer gets some swing, particularly with one that drifts and nips away to beat Stokes' bat as he chases with a front-foot drive.
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Philip Roberts: Think Stokes might take the stock to NZ when new ball comes, red leather flying everywhere.
Henry Ellison: The new ball is going to go a long way in deciding who might win this match. Three wickets this evening and NZ right on top.
PACopyright: PA
Eng 269-4 (Stokes 29, Cook 106)
Henry bowls the 80th over. Stokes and Cook steal a couple of singles before Stokes swivels to hammer a pull to deep square-leg for a third. The new nut is out of it's wrapper and shining brightly with potential menace. This is going to be very interesting.
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Pietersen on Cook
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Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen: He is a fantastic batsman #Cook.
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Eng 266-4
It is pretty gloomy at HQ. Gloomier than the current Liverpool dressing room. Craig eats up another six balls before the new ball by twirling a series of looping deliveries to around off stump for Cook to pat back.
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Jack Mendel: Surely it makes a bit more sense to have Ali at 6, as he's a top order player, & would be better vs 2nd new ball?
Eng 265-4 (Stokes 26, Cook 105)
Come on Stokes, let's not do anything rash. He goes hard at Henry's second ball and almost drags it from outside off and on to his stumps with an inside edge from a back-foot flash. He gets two runs from it but it was too much risk, way too soon. Thankfully, he seems to realise his error and approaches the rest of the over with much more sense.
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Eng 262-4
Craig's job is an easy one first up as he rattles off the three balls remaining from his over hanging over from the rain/tea break.
Post update
Mark Craig to start with the ball, Ben Stokes to face.
Post update
The umpires are on their way out, followed soon after by the players. Big session coming up. A match-defining session. England lead by 127 runs with six wickets remaining. New ball pending.
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Ian Borrett: Pro-Cook camp insufferably smug right now. My own take on him is that he is a great batsman, negative captain.
Post update
The covers are coming off at HQ. We're in line for a 15:50 BST restart.
Indian Premier League final update
Away from the ebb and flow of this absorbing Test, the Indian Premier League final is under way between two heavyweight sides at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
2013 winners Mumbai Indians are playing Chennai Super Kings - champions in 2010 and 2011 and runners-up three times - and have already lost a wicket, Parthiv Patel run out in the first over of the game.
England wicketkeeper Matt Prior: Leading from the front. Champion. Well played Alastair Cook!
Classy Cook
I'm going to (in cowardly fashion) duck any debate on the captaincy merits (or not) of Alastair Cook and focus solely on his batting at the moment. The 30-year-old has delivered a masterclass in building an innings in trying circumstances today (and a bit of yesterday).
It was testing last night and even more so this morning as Boult and Southee hooped it round corners and whipped away his initial partner Bell. But since then he has consolidated and then counter-attacked.
He ended 19 Tests without a century in the final game of the West Indies tour and now has two 100s in two matches. He is averaging just short of 65 this year.
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Post update
Thanks Jamie. I'm pleased to report that the rain has pretty much stopped and the ground staff are taking a very casual approach to matters during this tea break. Hopefully, we won't have any problems cracking straight on after tea.
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hollie: Landed just in time to hear Cook getting his well deserved 100. Makes the nerve-wracking wait on the flight worth it!
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Tea
Eng 261-4 (lead by 127)
With tea at 15:40 in any case, we are going to take the interval now in the hope that the rain clears. The BBC weather app says the rain will clear in a matter of minutes - and that is never wrong - so hopefully we will be able to resume promptly. There are still 41.3 overs to be bowled today, and they will be described by Phil Dawkes.
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Paul in Manchester: Alastair Cook has batted well and has actually been in pretty decent form for a while. But that doesn't mean you can just dismiss all the criticism as idiotic. There are still some fairly big question marks over the decisions made in the past 18 months, his captaincy and the management of the team. As always, I think the truth lies somewhere between the two extreme positions.
"New Zealand got the wicket that they wanted. They would love to have two prior to that second new ball, which is about three overs away. This gives them time to rest up their legs so they are ready when that 80th over strikes."
Rain stops play
Eng 261-4 (lead by 127, Cook 105, Stokes 22)
Is Craig is the right man to bowl to Stokes, who has something of a licence to cut loose? There is plenty to feast upon and he plays a authoritative back foot shot for four. But the rain is heavier, it is affecting the ball and the hover covers are called for.
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Eng 257-4 (Cook 105, Stokes 18)
The first umbrellas are up, and it is not to shield from the sun. Only a few drips at the moment, and I don't mean the ones under the MCC coloured protection. Actually it is a steady drizzle, they would definitely have been off in Dickie's day.
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Darren Hawkins: Nobody ever doubted Cook the batsman - it's Cook the captain which is the worry! - however he's delivered a captain's innings!
Beth Jakubowski: Thrilled for Cook. Well and truly back in the groove now. That's one of England's problems put to bed. The run machine is back.
Jon Adams: Fantastic century from Cook! Unlucky Root, but all this hard work is getting us right back in this match!
"The way McCullum is using Craig and give him a go he must feel there is a couple of good deliveries in him and he wants to draw those out. But the runs are accumulating. Craig is not the picture of a guileful spin bowler. If you are going to go at fives, you need to take wickets."
Eng 255-4 (lead by 121)
Stokes is relishing this number six role isn't he? It could turn out to be a masterstroke, the way he comes in and takes on the bowlers. He's got 17 from as many balls now, sweeping Craig for his fourth boundary.
Post update
Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at Lord's
"Alastair Cook may not always be a popular captain, or even lead a popular team, but he is clearly a popular man. A first home Test hundred is greeted by sustained applause from the Lord's crowd, some genuine warmth towards the skipper and delight in his success. In other news, it feels like rain is coming."
"This next hour and a half is going to be the Test match. We have a new ball coming, it is starting to get darker, the lights are on, a wicket has been taken. Good finish for Stokes there after the drive that drew an edge."
Eng 250-4 (Cook 103, Stokes 13)
On the subject of lookalikes, Henry's bowling action bears quite a resemblance to Jason Gillespie, who is rumoured to be close to becoming the next England coach. Stokes has got his eye in now it is safe to say, with three successive fours, the first a little streaky past third slip but the next a sublime cover drive with the pose held for the cameras, 250 up after 74 overs.
"That is Alastair Cook's fourth century at Lord's and third against New Zealand. It is the seventh time he has made a century with England going into a second innings with a deficit."
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Jack Cox: Well batted Alistair Cook, huge captain's innings when your team and country needed it most.
Michael Shaw: Well played Cookie, hopefully it will get some of the idiots of his back #classispermanent.
Tom Holmes: Now that that's two centuries for Cook, can we stop pretending he's not still one of the best batsmen out there?
Eng 236-4 (lead by 102)
The dulcet tones of Rod Tucker reveal that the impact was umpire's call and the ball was missing the stumps so umpire Ravi is able to breath a sigh of relief and, more importantly, so is Cook.
"It is a half-hearted sweep shot, an un-Alastair Cook shot. The redeeming feature is that the umpire has given it not out so it has to be hitting full on."
Umpire review
We are going to have a look here as Craig appeals for an lbw against Cook. Not out is the original verdict.
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Chris Watkins: Glorious from Alastair Cook. Doubt his captaincy or pandering to ECB politics all you want, he's one of our best. Excellent.
Sally Smith: Two centuries and another two 50s in the last 4 Tests... Cook is well and truly back!
"A very good innings. He played well this morning, but also last night. It was a tricky situation and the light wasn't good. He has got his reward here for playing really well."
100 for Cook
Wonderful century for a delighted England skipper, his 27th in Test cricket, his fourth at Lord's. He waves his bat jubilantly towards the balcony and after all that malaise in recent months it is nice to see that beaming cherubic smile. He reached three figures in fine style with an off-drive off Henry for three.
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Will the rain hold off?
According to the BBC weather forecast, it should start raining at Lord's any moment now...
"New Zealand will try to cramp Cook and keep him on tenterhooks. He just has to wait. It looks like he might get some bouncers from Henry. Cook needs to keep out of it. No hooking. England don't need another sucker wicket to fall."
Eng 233-4 (Cook 99, Stokes 0)
Only one over for Williamson and the other spinner Craig returns. Cook takes a single but that is the only scoring in the over as Stokes, with his heavily tattooed arms, calmly plays out the rest of the over and acclimatises to conditions, which remain overcast but dry.
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Maddy Raman: Why did he do that? Root looked behind him to see where the fielder was & hit it straight to him. Like catching practice.
Fi: That is stupid and unprofessional by Joe Root. It's NZ saying we know you're stupid enough to fall into this trap!
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Eng 232-4 (lead by 98)
There are two men out for the hook for Henry to Stokes but after seeing Root depart in that fashion he is not going to take that shot on ...yet.
"He has bowled him three bouncers, he has planned it. He deserves some credit does the bowler. He suckered him out. The thing for England is that it is actually 98-4. Another batsmen gets out now and it will be interesting evening session."
WICKET
Root c Boult b Henry 84 (Eng 232-4)
Joseph. There should have been two hundreds for you in this match young man. Fabulous innings, but a succession of short ones from Matt Henry replacing Southee and he hooks one straight to fine-leg.
"I just hope the two batsmen have spoken and reminded themselves they are really 96-3 here. Another couple of wickets and they are 120 ahead for five down then it is a difficult situation."
Eng 232-3 (lead by 98)
The groundstaff have had all manner of equipment out in the centre tending to the pitch, only the best gear here of course. McCullum turns to Kane Williamson for some off-spin and gives him two slips to Cook. Williamson's action has been under scrutiny before of course, and it is still not as pure as the driven snow. Rightfully watchful to start with from the two batsmen.
England v New Zealand lookalikes
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Andrew from Bristol: James Anderson and snooker player Mark Selby are lookalikes, even have same celebration face!
"I think England have done well. They got through that early period. It is a good pitch for scoring runs. There has been a moment or two when bowlers have had the upper hand. What hurts New Zealand is that their spinner is ordinary. You have to bowl with precision but his line and length is all over the place. It is help yourself bowling."
Drinks break
Eng 230-3 (Cook 97, Root 83)
Southee tries a few short ones. The light is not perfect because of the overcast conditions but nothing to alarm the batsmen, it's not Colin Croft in drizzle with all the lights on the scoreboard. Time for a drink.
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Jack Allum: Credit to Cook- an excellent innings so far. Shows what he can do when he comes out of his bunker.
Isaac Cooper: England finally showing that patience and timing is what you need in difficult conditions.
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England v New Zealand lookalikes
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Adam Ross: Ross Taylor is Ed Miliband's other brother #deadringer.
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Eng 229-3 (lead by 95)
Left-arm seamer Corey Anderson replaces Craig at the Nursery End, you must be able to find a lookalike for him, with his chiselled good looks. Root picks up up three with a neat cut shot, and with two men close in on the legside and none at all in the cover area, Cook moves within a four of his hundred.
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Mike Bell: Root batting well, as when he first came into team. They moved him up order, didn't work. Doing well again. If it ain't broke...
Will: Leave Root exactly where he is please. No captaincy and no moving up the order. If it ain't broke don't uproot.
"New Zealand's performance in this innings has been like England's in the first innings. They have bowled well and beaten the bat but failed to get as many wickets as they should have."
Eng 224-3 (Cook 94, Root 80)
Root is in sublime form as we know but a well struck pull off Southee is close to the fielder diving to his left at backward square-leg. It may have been a half chance but the ball was travelling at such a speed, at such a flat trajectory and far enough from the dive that the dropped catch graphic will not be utilised.
"Cook looks more balanced. He is getting to the pitch of the ball quickly."
Eng 220-3 (lead by 86)
A better over from Craig, mixing up his pace a little, but there is still a loose one and Cook seizes on it, pulling in front of square emphatically to the boundary. Six away from a century, skipper.
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scott lennon: Root gets the best out of anyone. After a tough year since, is there an argument for him to open the batting again? Matured a lot.
James Benson: Chef rustling up a daddy at Lord's. Summer has officially arrived.
Andrew Morris: England's past and future at the crease... working on England's present.
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Eng 215-3 (Cook 90, Root 75)
The change is made at the Pavilion End as Southee replaces Boult, but Cook looks in assured touch, punching off the back foot for his 10th boundary. What a partnership this is, and the captain is into the 90s.
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England v New Zealand lookalikes
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Harry Smith: Trent Boult is Stewart Downing's doppelganger.
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Some of Downing's shots on goal swing quite sharply too...usually into the upper tier....
"Craig just keeps releasing the pressure created by Boult at the Pavilion End."
Eng 209-3 (Craig 0-55 from 12)
Craig is performing an important role, he is keeping the over rate up a bit. The in-form England pair are able to rotate him comfortably for singles though, too many short ones from the spinner....cue a snorter next over...but will McCullum keep him on?
England v New Zealand lookalikes
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Tabshir Sikder: The NZ opening batsman Tom Latham and Zac Efron are practically doppelgangers.
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Eng 203-3 (lead by 69)
More imagination from skipper McCullum trying to unsettle Cook. There are two men within a couple of yards of each other in the covers, one closer than the other. Then one is moved to straight short mid-on. But these complicated plans are ruined by a ball on the pads from Boult, which allows Cook to flick another boundary. The England captain is planning a long vigil here, the 200 up after 62 overs.
"It's such a shame that New Zealand are only playing two Test matches. It's visit, not a series. I'd love to have seen them playing three or four Tests."
Eng 199-3 (Cook 77, Root 72)
Craig's Achilles heel, a loose one to release the pressure. This time it is the first ball of the over, a full toss, which Root in this imperious form is not going to miss out on. He puts it away beautifully for four.
Post update
Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at Lord's
"New Zealand have been doing some thinking over the lunch break. Have a look at this field for Joe Root, with Trent Boult bowling round the wicket, swinging the ball into the right-hander. Remember, Boult almost had Root lbw before the break. Now there's a slip, gully and short cover on the off side, with a short mid-wicket and leg gully on the on. There was also a short square leg that was then pushed back to the fence. What's the thinking?"
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Eng 195-3 (lead by 61)
Three slips and a gully for Cook as Boult continues with his probing line, if only all captains were this inventive. Just the one single to Root with a nudge off his pads.
England v New Zealand lookalikes
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Joe Baker: Alastair Cook and James Tompkins, the West Ham United defender. Scarily similar!
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Eng 194-3 (Cook 77, Root 67)
Craig has a nice loop to his action but it all looks a bit predictable for the England batsmen and Cook sweeps purposefully for his eighth four, the seventh conceded by the spinner, who has 32 wickets from nine matches. As if to highlight the danger of that statement to England supporters there is an edge from the skipper, but it falls well short of the slip fielder.
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Yorkshire pudding with chicken?
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Rob Zabrocky: Re Stephen Shemlit (13:50). I had an onion and bacon Yorkshire pudding with breakfast this morning. There is no rule.
Eng 190-3 (Boult 1-36 from 18)
Needlessly risky single from Cook there, Root was not expecting it and set off late. He was well out of his ground but substitute fielder Luke Ronchi's throw from the covers missed its target. Just the one slip for Boult with his left-arm inswingers from round the wicket to Root and a man out for the hook, but young Joe plays a straight bat.
England v New Zealand lookalikes
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Mike Bell: Re these cricketing lookalikes. Sorry to say that Ian Bell no longer looks like Ian Bell.
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Eng 189-3 (lead by 55)
Not sure who Craig reminds me of, he is a short, stocky lad with a thickish dark beard. Henry VIII would be unkind, maybe it is just someone who works here, or a barman somewhere. Root is fully confident with the sweep shot against him, however, and pummels another four.
England v New Zealand lookalikes
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Harry Jones: Jos Butler and Bath's George Ford. Those two were separated at birth.
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Eng 181-3 (Cook 71, Root 62)
Left-armer Boult from the Pavilion End with his delightful natural arc moving the ball away from the left-handed Cook in the low 80's mph. Three slips and a gully in place for the edge but nothing on offer from the England skipper, who digs out a yorker expertly and collects two.
Post update
Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at Lord's
"During the interval was in the lunch queue, chicken on offer. Man in front of me gets offered a Yorkshire pudding. 'Oh no, not with chicken. That's not cricket.' Is that a rule? I had no idea."
Eng 179-3 (lead by 45)
Root keeps the scoreboard moving in his usual positive way, sweeping the final ball of the over behind square for his ninth boundary. Excellent stuff.
"New Zealand are ahead, just. if England have a bad, bad session, they will lose this Test match. If New Zealand have a bad, bad session, they can still get out of it."
Afternoon session
Thanks very much Phil. Well, who would have thought when Ian Bell went to the third delivery of the morning and the ball was swinging around like certain dissatisfied middle-aged couples that 101 runs would be added for no further loss? Great testament to Cook and Root's evaluation of the match situation.
Rain is expected this afternoon but, though it has clouded over, it is not here yet and it will be the rather unpredictable spin of Mark Craig to begin the afternoon session. Twenty-six overs until the new ball, when presumably Boult and Southee will be lethal again.
Post update
I'm off for my lunch so I'll hand you over to Jamie Lillywhite for the afternoon.
England v New Zealand lookalikes
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NickP: Trent Boult is a dead ringer for British actor Nicholas Hoult.
Can anyone better that lookalike from this game? Send them in... Tweet using #bbccricket, email tms@bbc.co.uk or text 81111.
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Charlize Theron and Nicholas HoultImage caption: Charlize Theron and Nicholas Hoult
On speculation Yorkshire coach Jason Gillespie will be appointed England coach: "Plenty of chatter - and it is nothing more than that at the moment - that it could be wrapped up by the end of the week."
Yorkshire preparing for Gillespie exit
Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at Lord's
"Yorkshire are making plans for the possible departure of Jason Gillespie to become England coach.
"Former Australia fast bowler Gillespie has met twice with England cricket director Andrew Strauss and is understood to be ready to accept the job if he is offered it by the England and Wales Cricket Board.
"If Gillespie leaves Headingley, the county champions are likely to put director of cricket Martyn Moxon in charge for the rest of the season, with and a permanent replacement appointed in the winter."
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Martyn Moxon and Jason Gillespie with the 2014 County Championship trophyImage caption: Martyn Moxon and Jason Gillespie with the 2014 County Championship trophy
"A session of two parts; New Zealand really demanding in that first hour, very good swing bowling, full, Bell found out early. England had to work really hard to stay only three wickets down but were able to develop their game and Root and Cook have seen out the second hour particularly well."
Lunch scorecard
England 175-3 (54 overs) - lead by 41 runs
Batsmen: Cook 69*, Root 58*
Fall of wickets: 14-1 (Lyth 12), 25-2 (Ballance 0), 74-3 (Bell 29)
Bowling figures: Boult 16-5-33-1, Southee 15-2-50-2, Henry 14-2-47-0, Craig 7-0-31-0, Anderson 2-0-8-0
James Clarke: Re Jack (1159), Cook & Root cashing in for their patience, resolve and solid defence whilst in 'ultra defensive mode' earlier.
Sam Hollis: Root would swagger into any team in the world at the moment, that's how good he is.
Lunch
And that is lunch. Boult is unable to make the breakthrough before the break. After a horrible start, England have rallied superbly. Cook and Root consolidated before counter-attacking to move past New Zealand's first-innings total and take a 41-run lead.
It restores hope for the home side but there is a long way still to go.
Post update
Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at Lord's
"On the review, it took Rod Tucker a long time to decide there was no bat, but seconds to see that the impact wasn't enough to overturn the decision. Root's fate was always most likely to hinge on the ball-tracker, so why not do that first? Would have saved time."
Post update
It looked high at full speed. It still looks high on replays. And it is indeed too high to overturn the umpire's on-field decision. Not out.
"They are discussing if it got a nick from the bat but that shouldn't matter. It has nearly hit him on the neck!"
Umpire review
Boult delivers the last over before lunch. He starts over and gets little joy from Root, but switches to around the wicket and sparks a review to an lbw call that catches the England batsman high on his pad as he goes back and is turned down on-field.
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Charlotte Austin: Joe Root can change gear so easily. He can just read the game and conditions superbly.
Howard Horner: These two have played wonderfully. Defended and left so well, NZ are now trying to bowl magic balls and it's not happening.
"These two batsmen have subdued the attack. It is not the same Boult, not the same snap we saw at the start of the day. England are starting to get a measure of control but they have to be careful."
Eng 174-3 (England lead by 40)
Root is giving Craig no room for error. Every loose ball now is getting punished. The spinner drops short and the Yorkshireman rocks back and pulls to backward square-leg for four. Another single brings up the 100 partnership, with the second 50 coming from just 53 balls. Anyone on Twitter want to complain about how slow England are going?
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Tim in Sheffield: The key thing is to make sure we're far enough ahead come the second new ball.
Simon Reynolds: Seems no coincidence that since Root has come to the crease, Cook has looked more comfortable. Root seems to get the best out of his partners. He truly is class, surely a future captain.
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Eng 169-3 (Root 52, Cook 69)
Boult is back, looking to reverse the momentum that is starting to shift away from New Zealand. He doesn't possess the same zip he had earlier, though, and has to rely on disciplined consistency. He finds it and Cook pats him back for a maiden.
"In his Test matches at Lord's, Root has now got to 50 six times in his 10 innings."
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50 for Root
Eng 169-3
Root was firmly in first gear for his first 10 overs. He is now accelerating and slipping into third. Craig over-pitches and Root picks up a couple of boundaries with well-timed sweeps - one a slog-sweep over mid-wicket, the other a more delicate dabble finer. That's right Joe, get your bat up. You've earned it son. He has now passed 50 in seven of his last nine innings.
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Post update
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Test Match Special: The view from the TMS box as @Aggerscricket and @MichaelVaughan watch Cook and Root battle through morning session.
"A terrific session. It has got a little bit easier for England but they've had to battle hard. Root has been beaten several times and nearly caught but now he has got the benefit. The way New Zealand have bowled they could have had two or three extra wickets."
Eng 161-3 (Root 44, Cook 69)
This is developing into a superb stand. These two dug deep to see off some superb New Zealand bowling and now they are reaping the rewards as the Kiwi standards dip. Root rocks back and, like an efficient lumberjack, chops to send Henry's third ball fling past gully for four. He then picks up three with a drive down the ground off the last.
"Craig will go for a few runs but occasionally bowl a beaut. Too many times in that over he was too short. He's got to bring the batsmen forward, both times when he did he beat the bat."
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Eng 152-3
Craig finds his length and some spin to send one twirling away from Cook's tentative forward dab. However, after finding the perfect length. he goes to the other extreme with a horror-delivery that pitches wide and spins wider that has Latham diving to grab with one hand. That was almost yips territory. Just to keep Cook guessing, he ends with another that draws Cook forward and beats his bat. Sublime to ridiculous and back to sublime again. A ridiculous sandwich, with top quality bread, if you will.
Eng 148-3 (Root 34, Cook 67)
Root extends England's lead with a well-timed punch through midwicket off Henry, but gets a reminder that his side's position is precarious with a fullish ball that nips back of the pitch and jags between bat and stumps. This Test is like a well-matched boxing fight at the moment full of punches and counter-punches. England ensure they win the 48th over courtesy of a Cook pull for another four.
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Eng 139-3 (England lead by 5)
McCullum tweaks his bowling attack by spinning Mark Craig into the mix. He is a man who appears to sculpt his beard, which immediately makes me suspicious of him. Cook eyes him warily for a couple but then twice rocks back to pick up two boundaries - courtesy of a cut and a pull - that propels England into the lead.
Scorecard update
England 131-3 (46 overs) - trail by 3 runs
Batsmen: Cook 55*, Root 29*
Fall of wickets: 14-1 (Lyth 12), 25-2 (Ballance 0), 74-3 (Bell 29)
Bowling figures: Boult 14-4-32-1, Southee 15-2-50-2, Henry 12-1-29-0, Craig 3-0-6-0, Anderson 2-0-8-0
Philip Brooks: People would be complaining if Cook tried to up the pace and got out cheaply. Seems damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.
Rob Meech: People must separate Cook the captain from Cook the batsman. I don't think he should be skipper, but he's a fine batsman.
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Eng 131-3 (New Zealand lead by 3)
People are still finding their way to their seats at HQ. One bloke struggles down the steps carrying four pints of lager in one of those paper holder thingies that are always flirting precariously on the edge of disaster. Perhaps a metaphor for... Henry charges in, Root fends him off for a maiden.
Eng 131-3 (Root 29, Cook 55)
Corey Anderson, built more like a cage fighter than a cricketer, lumbers in for another over. Root and Cook are set, though, and he poses no problems. After the stand-off of earlier, this pair are starting to find runs easier to come by, courtesy of flicks, nudges and nurdles.
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Mike Fisher: Circumstances bring batting styles. Cook can dig in, bat long, and allow others to score quickly then there's hope for England.
Gregory Mumford: Cook finding his form, hoping to see 150 today, perfect partner in Root, if it stays dry, they can be there all day.
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Crazy cricketing attire
Text 81111
Digby in Durham: When I was a working as a gappy at Ryan Harris' old school in Adelaide I used to umpire in my kilt... which caused quite a stir when the wind picked up!
128-3 (New Zealand lead by 6)
The New Zealand bowlers have been so tight, so consistent, so effective, but there are signs that they are starting to flag a touch. Henry drops short outside off and Root is on it with a flashing back-foot drive that sends the ball skipping away to the backward point boundary. That was practically swashbuckling. The lead is down to single figures.
"Cook is a typical opening batsman, very stubborn, very single minded and that's what you need to be. When you look back to his best in 2011 he wasn't playing much one-day cricket. Now he's just playing Test cricket it's going to be a lot better for him, keeping it as simple as possible."
Text 81111
Jim: This is a typically disciplined performance by a southern hemisphere side. Like their rugby, disciplined, with the mental strength to bowl accurately and just wait for the batsman to make a mistake. England just don't have that ability, hence they play at balls they shouldn't.
Howard: Having watched England for 40 years now, I do chuckle at some of the comments on here. Remember it's a five-day game and sometimes a war of attrition. But this is Test cricket.
123-3 (Root 22, Cook 54)
As if he is hearing some of the nonsense criticism from the social media snipers, Cook rocks back to a short ball from the newly-introduced Corey Anderson and hammers a cut through point for four.
"It's been fantastic cricket to watch, high class from New Zealand who have got the ball moving around. That first over from Southee every ball seemed to be doing something. England still under a huge amount of pressure and there is still a bit of shape through the air."
Text 81111
Mark Valentine: Don't understand the criticism of these two for playing defensively. Ball is moving around like crazy and they need to concentrate on keeping their wickets. Runs can come later.
Freddy: People complaining about Cook's mindset for these couple of sessions is ridiculous. We need a captains innings here. And a big one.
I'm with Freddy. Any criticism of this Cook innings is ridiculous. These are tough conditions and circumstances for batting. He knows he needs to stay there. There will be a time for more expansive cricket later.
Eng 118-3
There are small signs that Joe Root is looking a tad more expansive in his shots. He guides a Southee delivery through gully with an open face to pick up a boundary and then gets forward to drive twice with intent, both of which bring him two runs. They momentarily lift the Lord's crowd out of its murmur.
"Cook has been working with Graham Gooch and he has got his trigger movements back to where they were a couple of years ago."
Eng 109-3 (Root 16, Cook 50)
Cook's half-century was amassed in exactly three hours of very challenging Test cricket. Henry continues to get the ball to swing and Root picks up another single with an inside edge that has the bowler yelping in hope that he may have claimed another scalp.
Text 81111
Stuart: Of course Boycott would like Cook's approach. Slow and steady. The game's moved on. He's not a Brendon McCullum, which is fine, but he doesn't move the game forward; gets out and then the collapse starts. Thank heaven for Root.
Jon: Slowly slowly boys, got to bat out the day, lead of 250 to then tempt them into a chase tomorrow...but you must stay in the middle to get there!
50 for Cook
Eng 108-3
England's captain punches one down the ground off Henry and picks up three runs that take him to 50. His 41st in Test cricket. He acknowledges all sides of the ground but it is every inch the celebration of a man with a big job still to do.
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Drinks break
Drinks time. Well, it started horribly for England but they have consolidated well. Cook and Root confer over a beverage, no doubt re-iterating the over-riding imperative to still be around at lunch.
"Testing times for Cook & Root but so far so good. Plenty more of the same please..."
Eng 105-3
Brendon McCullum has been in the wars this morning. His hamstring appears to be OK after a mis-field earlier. Now he shakes his finger after mis-fielding another at extra-cover. I think he caught it on the end of one of his digits. I know how that feels. His nail will be a deeper purple than Blowers' loafers come morning. Root plays a loose shot to a short ball from Southee that nips away and past his outside edge. The batsman chastises himself for the momentary lapse.
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Jack Allum: Root and Cook gone into ultra defensive mode already. No need for it. We need to score runs. Not just survive.
Thomas Kirman: People are looking for a reason to drop someone, in this case Bell, so a certain someone can be accommodated.
103-3 (Root 10, Cook 46)
Having been so conservative (as a necessity) Cook is given the chance to open up to a short Henry ball, which he pulls at and pads past Latham down the leg side for four leg byes. The England 100 is up. They are delicately eating into the lead. Slowly, slowly, catchy... er... Kiwi.
"This is right up Cook's street: bat all day, get 120-130. Don't over-complicate it by trying to play every shot in the book. He's very good at that. He's a top player."
"I haven't seen a better concentrator playing for England. I can't think of anyone better at getting into a space, staying calm and blocking it all out."
Scorecard update
England 97-3 (38 overs) - trail by 37 runs
Batsmen: Cook 44*, Root 10*
Fall of wickets: 14-1 (Lyth 12), 25-2 (Ballance 0), 74-3 (Bell 29)
Bowling figures: Boult 14-4-32-1, Southee 13-2-39-2, Henry 8-1-18-0, Craig 3-0-6-0
Brendon McCullum shuffles his pack again by bringing back Southee, but Cook's keeps his concentration. He flicks one to leg to add another single. Such is their scarcity that every run is being applauded now.
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Bush: Can I remind everyone that @Ian_Bell hit a Test hundred last month?
Antony Stewart: Bell won an Ashes series single-handed, has hit a little rough patch, and people want him dropped! Pipe down.
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Eng 95-3 (Root 9, Cook 43)
Cook and Root need to accept that their bat will be beaten on occasion today. This Kiwi attack is world class and the conditions and perfectly suited to their style or swing bowling. The key is to move on immediately from being beaten, concentration unaffected. Root does just that with a solid response to a Henry ball that nips away from his outside edge early in the 37th over of the innings.
Eng 94-3
Cook looks calm and composed with a determined focus to his game. We all know he can bat and bat and bat if required in tough circumstances. He will gain confidence from each challenging over he is able to see off. He manages Boult's latest with ease and is unfortunate not to get some runs with a checked drive through extra-cover that has a fielder diving to stop.
"Cook is playing well. His feet are going, his head is still, he's not rushing at it."
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Scott Brehaut: Some mad comments re Bell. He's usually class under pressure, getting some very good tons when needed. In bad spell, but class.
Will: Though I'm obviously hoping this won't happen: if Root gets out cheaply it would silence Mr Boycott. For a while at least.
Eng 94-3 (Cook 43, Root 8)
Henry has picked up with Southee left off. Full, swinging, applying plenty of pressure. New Zealand have been bang on the money so far this morning. Root is forced to go on the defensive to see out six balls for a maiden.
Eng 94-3
England are consolidating. Boult is posing a lot of questions with some devilish swinging deliveries but Cook and Root have so far managed to find adequate answers. However, the home side are so far from out of the woods, they may as well be wearing a red hooded cape.
"If they just hang around they will get the odd ball to score off. Bell's shot was poor, he was on the walk, he didn't give himself any chance of playing it well. I don't know if his mind has gone because he's dropping catches and that's four knocks without many runs."
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Allan S: Re Merlyn (11:10) - because he has thousands of Test runs and more than 20 Test tons? The pressure thing is old news as well.
Haroon Junaidi: England should not look at this series as preparation for Ashes. Each match should be played like a cup final.
Eng 91-3
On comes Matt Henry for his first over of the day, replacing Southee. Cook keeps things sensible, leaving anything off the stumps and flicking a straight one through square to add two to the total. England are in survival mode. They could do with Bear Grylls out there.
Crazy cricketing attire
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Jon: This was football, not cricket, but a mate used ripped up Spider Man pants as sock ties! (Other super hero briefs are available)
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Tony Cocozza: I simply don't believe that we don't have better batsmen than this lot plying their trade in the county game. It is the selectors who need our criticism.
Nat: I wonder who could replace a struggling Ian Bell at number four...
Eng 89-3 (Cook 40, Root 7)
These are tense, nervous, watch through your fingers times for England. Root is caught on the back pad by an inswinger from Southee that causes a huge, mass appeal from the tourists. It is close, but deemed to be missing down leg by the on-field umpire. Replays show it was a good call. There are more hooping balls out there than the Swingball factory.
Eng 89-3
The catch has come about from a Root flick off Boult that has the fielder at square-leg diving in to try and claim. Root was denied a similar catch yesterday courtesy of the judgment of Rod Tucker and his video equipment. If that wasn't a catch, then this surely can't be.... No, it's not. Root survives. Huge relief for England. It is Root's first aberration, a ball after driving his first four down the ground.
Eng 85-3
England hearts in mouths. We are going to have a replay to see if Joe Root has been caught at square-leg.
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Adam Wheeler: Here comes Root to dig England out of a hole. He can't do it all of the time. He will be the Aussies' target in the Ashes.
Chris Giles: Good to see how well a team performs when there are no 'trust issues'!
Eng 85-3 (Root 3, Cook 40)
New Zealand haven't had a worry in the world for the first 20 minutes of this session. They may have one now, though, as Brendon McCullum mis-fields to gift England three runs and then drops to the turf gripping his hamstring. It would be a disaster for the tourists to lose their skipper. As he limps around the field, Cook asserts himself by flicking a wayward Southee ball fine for four. The McCullum situation is one to watch.
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Boom: Ding Ding your time is up.
Sue: Oh dear, an early wicket. And so the endless negativity from England 'fans' begins...
Eng 78-3
Finally, a cheer from the Lord's crowd as Cook steers a shortish ball from Boult down to the wide third-man boundary for the first boundary of the day, the first runs of the day. It is a very tentative cheer, though. The kind you might hear for a last-minute consolation goal from a side who are already 5-0 down.
Eng 74-3 (Cook 32, Root 0)
Graham Gooch watches on at Lord's. His glum face says it all. Joe Root watches another Southee over go by. No shot played unless it is necessary. How Joe would love to be coming to the wicket in a position of strength. Unfortunately, he is an England middle-order batsman. It is not in the current job description.
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Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at Lord's
"I was at the bottom of the media centre, which backs on to the nets on the Nursery Ground, when the wicket of Ian Bell went down. Moeen Ali immediately began to make his way round to the pavilion. He wasn't getting caught out again."
Crazy cricketing attire
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Jon: Hats off to you for the gonzo socks, put some thought into it myself and went with Kermit ones this morning, the frog was a natural born leader...well kind of! And that's what we need from our two experienced hands at the crease today!
Luce in Manchester: When I played cricket for a local ladies team I used to wear knee high rainbow toe socks on match day.
Eng 74-3
As you'd expect, it is Trent Boult opening up with Southee. He finds a superb line and length outside off stump that has Cook pondering a shot or two but opting against anything rash. If ever a side needed a captain's innings it is England right now.
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Merlyn: Ah Ian Bell you don't disappoint. Why are we sticking with him? Always always crumbles under pressure.
Freddie Jones: Start game at 11, wicket lost by 11.01.. Only England.
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Eng 74-3 (Cook 32, Root 0)
England are on the rack. Root is welcomed to the crease with another belter from Southee that rises from a length and zips away from his outside edge. You can stick a silver fern in that first over. New Zealand owned it.
"Beautiful delivery by Southee, started about off stump, full length, enticing the drive. It swung away beautifully and a good catch by Latham - you could see the relief on his face. Worst possible start for England."
WICKET
Bell c Latham b Southee 29 (Eng 74-3)
Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. To only the third ball of the day, Bell reaches for a full outswinger from Southee that takes a nick and is claimed by a delighted Latham. Once again, England are going to be reliant on the class of Joe Root to dig them out of a deepening hole.
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Jeffrey Yeung: Even if rains stops play in the afternoon and pushes the match towards a draw, I feel England can't lose wickets before lunch.
Post update
He could play these with his water bottle. Geoffrey shows England the way.
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Right then Alastair, Ian, what have you got for us? Time to dig deep into that well of experience lads. HQ is quickly filling up, the fielders and umpires are out, followed soon after by the England pair, who bounce about with intent on their way to the crease. Here we go again. Hold on to you hat/sweat-stained cap.
"Somebody has to make a hundred, it's that glue that holds everything together. Just because they bowl a good ball doesn't mean they are going to get you out."
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Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at Lord's
"Consider this. Over the first three days of this match, we have seen an average of 329 runs (with a little rounding up) and sevenish wickets. If that continues today, England would be all out or very nearly cleaned out, with a lead of about 270. Wouldn't that set up a fascinating final day?"
Start-of-play scorecard
England 74-2 - trail by 60 runs
Batsmen: Cook 32*, Bell 29*
Fall of wickets: 14-1 (Lyth 12), 25-2 (Ballance 0)
Bowling figures: Boult 9-2-22-1, Southee 9-0-30-1, Henry 5-0-15-0, Craig 3-0-6-0
In honour of my socks and Blowers' loafers, why not let us know the worst piece of kit you don to either play or watch cricket. Have you got a 25-year-old cap with sweat rings? Or a jumper so moth-eaten you don't know which hole to put your head through? The Answer is an easy one for the current England side, it's those new jumpers. Terrible.
You can contact us on Twitter, using the hashtag #bbccricket or on text, on 81111 (UK only). Be sure to put your name on texts.
What about the weather?
BBC weather presenter Jay Wynne: "Temperatures already up to 17 or 18 but a quick look out to the west and it is beginning to cloud over. There is every possibility of at least some rain in the next few hours, so a changeable sort of day. Much better prospects for Bank Holiday Monday, where it should be a full day."
"This morning is such a key morning because conditions are good for batting. Yesterday we saw a pitch that changed as soon as the clouds got a bit heavy, New Zealand would have wanted those conditions and they haven't got them. It will be interesting to see how McCullum plays it, will he change from the first innings going on the attack all the time?"
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Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at Lord's
"Lovely morning at HQ, with the number of children in whites around Regent's Park suggesting there's a game on there too. There's a risk of rain later today and, at a guess, around a 35% chance of New Zealand winning this match today. England must dig a trench."
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I've got a pair of my Muppets socks on today. Gonzo in particular. They felt right considering England's predicament (bare with me, I'm going somewhere with this). Gonzo was the Muppets' eternal optimist, unbowed despite years of failure. No matter how many knocks he got, he kept strapping on his helmet and getting back in that cannon.
It is the kind of spirit England need to embrace today. Helmets on, back in the cannon, fuse lit and aiming for new heights. Unlike Gonzo's antics, there is no room for chickens.
England need heroes
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In 1984, Welsh songstress Bonnie Tyler declared that she was holding out for a hero. Where have all the good men gone, and where are all the gods, she asked. Where's the street-wise Hercules, to fight the rising odds?
Well England are in need of a Herculean hero of their own today (preferably two). At the end of three days of an absorbing first Test at Lord's, the balance of the match is in favour of New Zealand, in the shape of a 60-run lead and two early England second-innings scalps.
Tyler needed her hero to be strong, fast, fresh from the fight, sure, soon and larger than life. England would make do with someone who can get to three figures.
Live Reporting
Phil Dawkes and Jamie Lillywhite
All times stated are UK
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Latest PostPost update
When Ian Bell trudged off after the third ball of the day, who would have predicted it ending like this? Take a bow Cook, Root and Stokes. They kept New Zealand at bay, turned the tide and then took the game to the tourists.
Cook was coolness personified, Root his classy self and Stokes brutally brilliant. They have put England in charge and with a chance of pushing for the unlikeliest of victories. On top of that, Alastair Cook is 41 runs away from becoming England's leading run-scorer in Test cricket.
How can you possibly miss day five? We'll see you again tomorrow at 10:30 BST.
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HarlowSSP: Great day of 'traditional' test cricket; no sledging, gamesmanship, mention of KP, controversy or silly send offs!
When will England declare?
Ben Stokes on England's possible declaration: "We haven't spoken about it. wouldn't want to say what the plans are because I don't have a clue. Hopefully we can bat on tomorrow and stick them in."
Post update
Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special
"When Cook does his sums he's got 90 overs. If he takes 30 overs to bat, that's all they'll bowl before lunch, and gets another 100 runs they're going to be 400 on, so that's 400 in 60 overs. He daren't leave them less with McCullum. I don't think he's going to give them much of a chance."
Player reaction
England centurion Ben Stokes on playing entertaining cricket: "The number one goal is to win games of cricket.
"But the guys upstairs are all very positive and entertaining cricketers. So when guys like Gaz, Rooty and Jos get in, expect to see some fireworks."
Highest fourth-innings chases at Lord's
Whether England declare or not on Monday, New Zealand face a stiff test if they are to win this Test, given that only one side have chased more than 282 for victory in the fourth innings...
Player reaction
More from Ben Stokes on TMS: "It is a great day personally but more importantly we are in a good position as a team. I got close in the first innings and was nervous but to get over the line was brilliant."
On batting at six: "It is somewhere I want to be and capitalise on the opportunity I have. I have started well, hopefully that can continue. You can't live on what has happened in this Test, I have to deliver every time.
"I think it is just another game of cricket. The things I've done for Durham have got me here so I don't think I need to change anything. I back myself.
"The middle order is very positive. Rooty [Joe Root] is always scoring 60 or 70 per 100 balls. I like to play like that, so do Mo [Moeen Ali] and Jossy [Jos Buttler]. No one puts pressure on us."
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Matthew Clark: Criticism of Cook is crazy. 'Didn't score quickly at the end'. He's anchored all innings and made 150, allowing others to play.
Post update
Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special
"I'd like to see Cook turn to Stokes as first change bowler rather than always see him as the fourth seamer. We might now see him blossom as a bowler after 90 and a hundred with the bat."
Player reaction
Ben Stokes, who scored 101 in 92 balls, on Sky Sports: "We're ahead of the game and every one in the dressing room is in a really good mood.
"It was good. I rode my luck a little bit but you need a little bit to succeed. Things just went my way all day.
"I was pretty nervous when I was in the nineties again but to get that one away was a pretty special feeling, and to do it at Home of cricket was fantastic - and something I'll never forget.
"I felt I've got this far, I might as well keep having a hack. Things paid off."
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Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special
"When you can bat and bowl, a la Botham, it frees up your mind, you're not totally dependent on one. Stokes didn't do anything daft, when the ball was up he hit it. He expressed himself and if you can get a proper all-rounder it gives the team the opportunity to play another bowler. It gives you options which we haven't always had."
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Phil Tufnell
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special
"Tricky little decision for Cook perhaps, when to declare. They'll surely have a chat about that over a bit of dinner tonight but what a fantastic day ahead."
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Matt: It may not come down to a declaration. NZ still a very good bowling outfit that could come back refreshed tomorrow and knock England over.
Post update
Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special
"Cook and Root played beautifully. Cook is in top form, he is meeting the ball late and the ball is going to mid-on and mid-off with a full face of the bat. He played that period of 40 minutes when it was tough and they were coming at them very well. Root is almost in too good form, and they fought off the challenge of the new ball. Once they got through that it looked easy."
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Michael Smith: Just love the way the New Zealanders play their cricket - positive, talented and very sporting.
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Reidar Vasband: Cook, great batsman no doubt but rubbish captain; 24 runs off the last 10 overs today after having our foot on their throats!
Post update
Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special
"It was an uplifting day for English cricket, for the team, for the captain, everyone. They could have gone under today. There have been times when the opposition seamers would have nipped a couple out and it would have been an England loss."
Close-of-play scorecard
England 429-6 (118 overs) - lead by 295 runs
Batsmen: Cook 153*, Moeen 19*
Fall of wickets: 14-1 (Lyth 12), 25-2 (Ballance 0), 74-3 (Bell 29) 232-4 (Root 84), 364-5 (Stokes 101), 389-6 (Buttler 14)
Bowling figures: Boult 28-5-71-1, Southee 29-4-129-2, Henry 21-3-79-1, Craig 29-3-106-2, Anderson 3-0-13-0, Williamson 1-0-2-0
First innings: England 389; NZ 523
Full scorecard
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Nick barham: The fact that we are even raising possibility of declaration shows what a great day England have had!
Andy Kinrade: Well done Captain Cook. A bona fide Captain's knock.
Matthew Clark: England's day, almost 300 ahead. Stokes terrific but Cook the star for batting all day as anchor.
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Phil Tufnell
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special
"Every single New Zealand player went up and shook Cook's hand."
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Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician
"The first time Cook has batted all day since the Oval Test of 2012."
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Mick in Rotherham: England are 100 short of a declaration total right now. An overnight declaration is almost throwing the game to NZ - too much to risk!
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Tom Shackleton: We need to crack on and allow another 50-80 runs before a declaration. Let's make it safe then attack with the ball tomorrow.
Eng 429-6 (Cook 153, Moeen 19)
Moeen has to fend off another over of challenging short balls from Southee. New Zealand end the day with a bizarre field, dominated by off-side fielders. There's a short cover, a short extra-cover, a short everything. Moeen swings wildly at the last ball but does not nick it and England end 295 runs ahead. What a superb day of Test cricket.
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Richard Millard: All those saying Cook should declare now will no doubt call for him to be sacked if he did and NZ chased down the runs.
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Rob Hand: The odd shower tomorrow and a cheeky declaration at 10:50 please.
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chipperhull: First rule of any declaration is not to give the opposition a sniff. The 2nd is remember Greenidge in 84...
Eng 429-6 (England lead by 295)
An exciting and gripping day of Test cricket is drawing to a close with a tame whimper. McCullum sticks in a slip and leg slip in an attempt to bag a final wicket before the close but Cook offers a brick wall to Craig. We'll have one more over.
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John: Dear Chef, we will excuse a defeat if there was the possibility of a win.
Eng 429-6 (Cook 153, Moeen 19)
It feels like an awful long time since the boost that Bell wicket gave New Zealand. They have been ground down, battered and bruised by England since. Southee opts largely for shorter stuff, which Ali has to duck under.
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'Arsenal Guvnor': What is Cook doing? They should be attacking every ball to build lead quickly and get out! Game has draw written all over it.
Eng 428-6
Maybe two or three overs left today? Craig changes to the Nursery End. Just the one from it. All eyes on Cook now. How brave is he going to be with a declaration? It is unlikely top come tonight, but will he stick New Zealand straight in tomorrow? Experience suggests he will be on the conservative side.
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Adam Wheeler: Whatever the result of this Test, both sides have shown character and mettle during parts of the match.
Amen, Adam.
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Simon Parker: Why do people have a go at Cook for negative declarations? I very much doubt it's his decision alone.
Jamie Bisson: As soon as Cook gets his double hundred, England should declare.
Eng 427-6 (England lead by 293)
Southee is back, no doubt still smarting from the mauling given to him by Stokes earlier in the session. Moeen takes him for four more with a drive through backward point from the second ball of the over. Three bouncers and a yorker follow.
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Phil Tufnell
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special
"Fantastic round of applause for the England captain's 150. Great knock Alastair Cook.
150 for Cook
Eng 423-6
After surviving an lbw call, born more from desperation than belief, from Boult, Cook turns one to leg to bring him two runs and take him past 150. The England players on the balcony to a man rise to their feet, as do the remaining fans in Lord's. A superb knock. A reaffirmation of the skipper's class with a bat in his hands.
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Howard Horner: We must remember today when, in the future, Stokes' aggressive style gets him out early - just let him play his natural game.
Eng 421-6
Craig is getting through some overs for New Zealand. He doesn't pose much of a threat but he keeps England in check with a maiden. Very subdued feel about this now. Thoughts are already starting to turn to tomorrow.
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David Worsfold: Cook's batting from the start has been just what England needed yet there are still people moaning. Unbelievable.
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Joshua Habergham: What's the thinking on how early to get to Lord's tomorrow then?
Eng 421-6 (Cook 149, Moeen 15)
Boult veers too straight and Cook is able to flick it down to the vacant fine-leg boundary for four. England continue to make progress towards that significant 300-run lead.
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Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at Lord's
"Slightly subdued at Lord's now, as if we've had our excitement for the day. In essence, the Test is now set, it just depends if New Zealand can quickly bowl England out or the home side carry on to a declaration tomorrow. Then, the final drama begins."
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Phil Tufnell
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special
"I don't think they'll declare now. It's a brave new world until Martin Guptill gets 150 and Brendon McCullum gets 200! This is the beauty of the game."
Eng 415-6 (England lead by 281)
Cook shows that when the ball is there to be hit he will have a go. He slightly miscues off Craig, though, with an outside edge that brings him three.
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Ian Bentley: Only chance to win is to be bowled out as Cook is too cautious to make a challenging declaration.
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Stuart Mitchell: A 350+ lead and I'm getting confident of an England win. Pitch is starting to turn a bit and can't see Ali doing as badly as Craig.
Eng 410-6 (Cook 140, Moeen 13)
Cook is now 54 runs away from passing Graham Gooch's record 8,900 Test runs for England. He is almost denied the chance of reaching that tally today courtesy of a Boult ball that wobbles in the air, pitches on a length and sways past both outside edge and stumps. A beauty. There is still life in this.
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Jack Byrne: Next 20 overs will show how positive Cook is trying to be, are we trying to win this or just bat New Zealand out of the game?
Eng 409-6 (Cook 139, Moeen 13)
Moeen moves into double figures with a chip through mid-off that draws unfulfilled calls for a catch and then a boundary through mid-on from a Craig full-toss.
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Mark Higginson: Cook has created the conditions for Root and Stokes to play their shots. Great player.
DrHolmes: Moeen Ali walking in at 6 down, is a delightful sight. Promising future ahead for English cricket!
Eng 402-6
England's run-scoring is considerably more modest than an hour ago. Understandable. This lead is far from decisive. Henry continues to pepper Moeen with some short stuff, one of which is so wild it brings England a wide.
Eng 400-6 (England lead by 266)
Andrew Strauss is laying down the law to a colleague in one of the boxes at HQ. Meanwhile, on the pitch, England continue to boss matters. Moeen goes aerial with a daring lofted drive to claim four off Craig over extra cover. It brings up England's 400. Craig slams the next ball into Moeen's pad but despite a big appeal, it was clearly hitting outside the line.
Eng 396-6 (Cook 137, Moeen 3)
Henry is a personable young man, he's beaming away like a young Hugh Grant. But a debut at Lord's with your team in with a good chance is not a bad place to be. He may have brought his hundred up in terms of runs conceded but he is still probing outside Cook's off-stump. Remarkable resilience from the England skipper though, he collects another single and remains undefeated.
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Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician
"Tom Latham, standing in for BJ Watling, I reckon that's the first time a stand-in wicketkeeper has taken five dismissals in a Test match."
Eng 394-6 (lead by 260)
Craig plugging away from the Pavilion End. Moeen gets off the mark by lofting him down the ground, plenty of height on it but it only goes for two. We have a possible 15 overs left today and so far the rain has not returned.
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Luke Bailey: Cook benefiting from no ODIs. Broad, Anderson and possibly Bell should think about going down the same route.
Jon Dunn: Not sure I understand the logic of Buttler coming in ahead of Ali in this situation.
Eng 391-6 (Cook 135, Moeen 0)
It is starting to look a bit gloomy again, but the stands remain full. This is too gripping. Cook pulls a short Henry ball to the mid-wicket boundary for a single. Moeen has to deal with a forward short leg and has to dodge out of the way of a bit of a snorter that rises past his nose.
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Philip Pugh: An England win is still the least likely result but is more probable than when Bell was out this morning.
Eng 390-6
Stuart Broad is supping on an energy drink in the changing room. I suppose that stuff does give you the runs. Not the kind Broady is after, though. Craig keeps England to a single run. Moeen yet to score.
Post update
Jeremy Coney
Ex-New Zealand captain on BBC Test Match Special
"This game is poised. We've been talking about the choices England have, but not a lot of confident runs are left after this for them so they have to be a little bit careful."
Indian Premier League final update
Chennai Super Kings are chasing 203 to beat Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League final.
Lendl Simmons hit 68 off 45 balls, Rohit Sharma 50 off 26 and Kieron Pollard 36 off 18 in Mumbai's total of 202-5 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
Chennai are 14-0 three overs into their reply.
Eng 389-6 (Cook 133, Moeen 0)
The new man is Moeen Ali. Not a bad man to have at number eight. Three slips and a gully are in but Henry digs it short and Latham dives to claim. All eyes on Alastair Cook again now. The game is poised nicely.
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Jeremy Coney
Ex-New Zealand captain on BBC Test Match Special
"Buttler just following a little bit of movement in the air first of all and then from the slope and it was a villainous little edge through to the keeper."
WICKET
Buttler c Latham b Henry 14 (389-6)
Henry does for Buttler before the wicketkeeping powerhouse can really get going. The delivery is short of a length and moves away a touch to clip a slim nick off the edge of Buttler's bat and carrying to Latham. England still have work to do.
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Jeremy Coney
Ex-New Zealand captain on BBC Test Match Special
"Cook has been very organised. Those overs at the start of the day, which were very testing, he saw all that off and now he has cashed in."
Eng 388-5
Cook comes out of his shell with a flourishing drive that sends a wide and full Southee ball racing to the rope. The skipper was able to play a holding role while Stokes was on the charge, but is this a sign that he is going to take a more proactive role with Buttler? If he does, he will have an equally positive partner, which Buttler illustrates with a boundary of his own through cover.
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Jonathan Agnew
BBC Test Match Special
"Buttler makes things happen and New Zealand will certainly want to see the back of him."
Eng 376-5 (England lead by 245)
Brendon McCullum is still smiling. Of course he is, that's his way. He is the eternal optimist. Which is precisely why England can't think the hard work is done. Buttler opens his boundary account with a lofted drive over and through extra cover off Henry. He is denied another courtesy of McCullum's dive and stop to prevent his outside edge through cover reaching the rope. Cook drives three runs of his own.
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Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician
"In a partnership of 132, Stokes got 101, extras seven and Cook 24."
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Jeremy Coney
Ex-New Zealand captain on BBC Test Match Special
"Southee has been at the IPL, where was the slow ball? But great hitting from Stokes, spreading largesse around the ground."
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Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special
"Gilchrist used to do that all the time for Australia with his team in trouble, smash it around for a couple of hours and put them on top. Ben Stokes has just done that for England."
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Thomas Measures: To think you get Stokes out, and then see Buttler coming to the crease.....exciting times for England.
Eng 369-5
You suspect there is only one topic making up the Lord's hum at the moment; that innings by Ben Stokes. Inevitably, England have lost momentum since he departed as Cook and Buttler consolidate and go again. Southee is back at the Pavilion End and goes for just the one run. Time for some drinks.
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Herman Eutic: Ben Stokes could actually run a seminar entitled: "Audacity in Batting: Fours, sixes, and excitement".
Bertie Huburn: What an innings from Stokes, so good to watch positive cricket in the middle order!
Eng 368-5 (Buttler 2, Cook 124)
Lets not forget the dynamic of the game here. England lead by 233, with five wickets remaining. There is still work to do. New man Jos Buttler is more than capable of matching the hitting of Stokes but first he must acclimatise. He gets off the mark with a dab into cover off a Henry delivery.
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Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special
"That's the way to reconnect with the cricketing public."
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Jonathan Agnew
BBC Test Match Special
"He's brought a rather drab afternoon to life. They talk about the future of English cricket, reconnecting with people, well there's one very good reason."
WICKET
Stokes c Taylor b Craig 101 (Eng 364-5)
Stokes' brilliant innings is over as he looks to swipe one to cow and clips an edge to Ross Taylor at slip off Craig's final ball of the over. It is sad to see him go but his part is played. It is one of the most brutal Test innings this ground has ever seen. HQ rises as one to applaud what is sure to be a prominent member of England's future for some time to come. Like Joe Root, I salute you, sir.
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Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special
"Paul Farbrace was the guy that moved Stokes to number six, he deserves a huge amount of credit, he has given him responsibility and told him to go out and play his natural game."
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Paul Clarkson: Stoke score 6 - Stokes hits some more.
If you didn't know, Stoke beat Liverpool 6-1 in Steven Gerrard's final game on the last weekend of the Premier League season.
Eng 363-4 (Cook 121, Stokes 101)
Henry is unable to find a way through Cook, who sees off four and nicks a single off the fifth.
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Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at Lord's
"These are scenes that will live long in the memory. Stokes punched the air and looked to the sky, Lord's erupted and Alastair Cook sprinted to embrace English cricket's new hero. There was tears from a woman I think might be Stokes' girlfriend and handshakes from at least five of the New Zealanders. The best moment, though, was Joe Root's salute, greeted by a huge cheer. Are you watching Marlon Samuels?"
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Charlie Rhodes: @benstokes38 is a serious class act! I'd put money on him taking a few last innings wickets too! He's on fire!
Woody Harrison: Amazing batting from Stokes! Someone needs to tell him it's a test match not a T20.
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Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special
"The whole game has been tremendous for Test cricket. It shows if you have a mindset of attack you can put quality teams like New Zealand under pressure."
Eng 362-4 (England lead by 228)
New Zealand look lost for ideas, which is not something you say often about a Brendon McCullum team. Mark Craig is back into the attack but the England pair work him around for a couple.
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Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician
"Stokes's hundred from 85 balls is the fastest Test century at Lord's, beating Mohammad Azharuddin's off 87 balls for India in 1990."
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Scott Griffiths: Let this be an end to the debate as to whether Ben Stokes should be in the Test team and where he bats!
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Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special
"I can't tell you how good an innings that is. To look so much in control has been extraordinary."
100 for Stokes
Eng 360-4
Well played Ben Stokes. Short, full, it doesn't matter where they pitch them. Henry goes full but the Durham man punches it down the ground for four to take him to 99. He then works one away for a single off the last ball and and HQ erupts. It was going to have to be something special to eclipse Alastair Cook's century today. That is exactly what this is. Joe Root stands and salutes him from the balcony.
Scorecard update
England 353-4 (92 overs) - lead by 219 runs
Batsmen: Cook 118*, Stokes 95*
Fall of wickets: 14-1 (Lyth 12), 25-2 (Ballance 0), 74-3 (Bell 29) 232-4 (Root 84)
Bowling figures: Boult 25-5-62-1, Southee 24-3-114-2, Henry 21-3-79-1, Craig 18-1-72-0, Anderson 3-0-13-0, Williamson 1-0-2-0
First innings: England 389; NZ 523
Full scorecard
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Jack Blackburn: Ben Stokes: this is one of the best innings I've ever seen live. Just audacious, dominant and supreme.
Rob Meech: Ben Stokes is showing what a superb cricketer he could become. Not the finished article, but the ingredients are there.
Eng 353-4 (England lead by 219)
Cook was on 98 when Stokes came out to bat. He is now on 118 and, after this latest over from Boult, Stokes has 95. It is one of the most audacious, brutal Test innings of recent times by an England player and it is leaving some Kiwi bowlers with increasingly ugly figures.
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Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at Lord's
"It's thrilling, hairs-on-the-back-of-the-neck, edge-of-the-seat, box-office stuff from Ben Stokes, entertainment that this whole crowd is invested in. See ball, hit ball, with every boundary cheered more loudly than the last. Flintoff-esque?"
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Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special
"This is wonderful. The cricket over the last four days has been fantastic to watch but this last hour from Ben Stokes has surpassed that. They're dancing in the stands."
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Jeffrey Yeung: Great shots from Stokes but I hope he settles down and get a 100, he deserves it after these two great innings he has played.
Fi: Isn't Test cricket like this fab? Tense and exciting!
Eng 350-4 (Stokes 93, Cook 117)
What was that definition of madness again? Southee digs in another short ball that Stokes pulls to the point boundary and straight up one of the drainage pipes. The ball retrieved, Southee digs in another short ball that Stokes puts into the stand. England's number six shows the ability that underpins his aggression with the best shot of the lot to drive a fuller ball straight past the bowler and down for four more. That is 37 off the last two Southee overs. It is Twenty20 stuff and absolutely brilliant.
Eng 333-4
These two batsmen are proving to be a superb pairing of styles and temperament. Stokes is taking the game to New Zealand, with Cook solidly supporting him. Silk and steel. It is the more of the latter in this over as Cook flat-bats Boult.
Final day ticket news
Now seems a good time for this... tickets for the final day will be available at the North Gate from 09:00 BST - priced £20 for adults, £10 for over-65s and free for under-16s (cash only). Could be a great day in prospect too.
Post update
Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician
"The 100 stand in just 120 balls."
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gilbo: A lead of 350 before even thinking of declaring.
Eng 331-4 (Stokes 77, Cook 117)
Ben Stokes is on fire. Southee tries to bounce him out three times. The first he completely batters into the Tavern, the second he gets lucky with as sub fielder Doug Bracewell at deep square leg lets it drop through his hands for another maximum, and the third he pulls fine for four. It is a good time to be an England player or fan now. The team are on top and enjoying themselves. And it is not often we have been able to say that in recent years.
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Merlyn: I really do love this New Zealand team. I'm currently checking my heritage to see if I can consider switching allegiances.
Eng 311-4
Such is the power of Stokes that even a jab can bring him four. He digs out a full Boult ball and sends it racing away down the ground for four. 44 of his 59 runs have come in fours. He really is a punisher. He should have a big skull on his shirt.
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Phil Tufnell
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special
"I think a big part of this partnership has been just dropping and running and rotating the strike."
Eng 307-4 (Stokes 55, Cook 116)
Review survived, England's pair keep the scoreboard ticking. The lead is not over 170. Cracking Test match, this. And England are moving in to a very positive position with firepower in reserve.
Post update
It is not a no-ball. Cook didn't hit it, but impact is 'umpire's call' as he was just outside the line. It is a clear reminder to Cook and England that they can't be complacent here. New Zealand's attack still has some tricks up the sleeve.
Umpire review
Cook is trapped in front going back to a Southee ball that swings back dramatically and slams into his pads. Is it hitting, though?
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Phil Tufnell
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special
"Stokes has carried on from the first innings. He came in and stamped his authority on the game. They stay hit when he hits them."
50 for Stokes
Eng 303-4
Well played Ben Stokes. A second 50 of the match is brought up in just 57 balls. he has carried on from where he left off before bizarrely leaving that ball from Craig to be dismissed for 92. He celebrates his latest milestone with a well-timed drive through point for four.
Eng 297-4 (England lead by 163)
Stokes makes it 48 runs from 53 balls with a quick single off Southee's latest over to give the more conservative Cook the strike. The skipper drops the shutters and doesn't give New Zealand a sniff.
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Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special
"This is why it's a good pitch because the bowlers feel with a good ball there is something in it for them, but if batsmen can get in there are runs for them, you don't get bogged down because the ball doesn't come on to the bat."
Eng 295-4 (Stokes 47, Cook 113)
Boult is not deprived the new ball for long as he replaces Henry at the Pavilion End. It doesn't halt Stokes' momentum, though, as the number six plants his foot and slaps a wide one over point for four. It is your classic holder and goer partnership between Cook and Stokes. There are umbrellas and macs going on around the ground in response to a light drizzle. This won't help New Zealand's efforts to keep the new ball fresh. Nor will Stokes knocking the case off it.
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Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at Lord's
"Very dark at HQ, moisture hangs in the air. It feels like a time to be bowling, especially when there's a new ball in hand. England, though, continue to find the boundary with regularity, the crowd keeping warm by applauding and cheering each blow to the fence."
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Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special
"If England bat all day they are going to be in a decent position 250 or 260 on. If they get up to 280 that won't be easy to get. Some of these smaller totals create a lot of pressure."
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Cameron Bashir: Currently more nervous about the new ball than I am about exams.
Jack Allum: Scoring rate slowing considerably for England. We need to keep pressure on NZ bowlers.
Eng 288-4
A new ball is a potent weapon, but it can come at a cost. If you don't get it right, especially against an aggressor like Stokes, the cherry will pop sweetly off the blade. Stokes slaps Southee's back-of-a-length first backward of square for four, hammers his third down the ground for another boundary and steers his fourth to backward square again for a third. Southee then beats the outside edge with a superb ball and has to use his boot to stop another four from Stokes' drive down the ground from his last ball. It is all happening.
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Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician
"This is Cook highest's score at Lord's."
Eng 276-4 (Cook 110, Stokes 30)
Trent Boult looks like Brendon McCullum has just spat on his kitten as he is told he won't be taking the next over. Matt Henry is given a chance to shine instead but he suffers at the bat of Cook, courtesy of a lovely drive through cover. He then slings down a wide that beats the diving Latham to gift England a couple.
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Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special
"The next hour is key, and if we get through it we're on our way, or if Southee and Boult can get it in good areas. If they don't get it right you can score quickly."
Eng 269-4 (England lead by 135)
Tim Southee returns to take charge of the new ball. Immediately, the sound as it strikes the willow is a firmer clunk. The New Zealand seamer gets some swing, particularly with one that drifts and nips away to beat Stokes' bat as he chases with a front-foot drive.
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Philip Roberts: Think Stokes might take the stock to NZ when new ball comes, red leather flying everywhere.
Henry Ellison: The new ball is going to go a long way in deciding who might win this match. Three wickets this evening and NZ right on top.
Eng 269-4 (Stokes 29, Cook 106)
Henry bowls the 80th over. Stokes and Cook steal a couple of singles before Stokes swivels to hammer a pull to deep square-leg for a third. The new nut is out of it's wrapper and shining brightly with potential menace. This is going to be very interesting.
Pietersen on Cook
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Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen: He is a fantastic batsman #Cook.
Eng 266-4
It is pretty gloomy at HQ. Gloomier than the current Liverpool dressing room. Craig eats up another six balls before the new ball by twirling a series of looping deliveries to around off stump for Cook to pat back.
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Jack Mendel: Surely it makes a bit more sense to have Ali at 6, as he's a top order player, & would be better vs 2nd new ball?
Eng 265-4 (Stokes 26, Cook 105)
Come on Stokes, let's not do anything rash. He goes hard at Henry's second ball and almost drags it from outside off and on to his stumps with an inside edge from a back-foot flash. He gets two runs from it but it was too much risk, way too soon. Thankfully, he seems to realise his error and approaches the rest of the over with much more sense.
Eng 262-4
Craig's job is an easy one first up as he rattles off the three balls remaining from his over hanging over from the rain/tea break.
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Mark Craig to start with the ball, Ben Stokes to face.
Post update
The umpires are on their way out, followed soon after by the players. Big session coming up. A match-defining session. England lead by 127 runs with six wickets remaining. New ball pending.
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Ian Borrett: Pro-Cook camp insufferably smug right now. My own take on him is that he is a great batsman, negative captain.
Post update
The covers are coming off at HQ. We're in line for a 15:50 BST restart.
Indian Premier League final update
Away from the ebb and flow of this absorbing Test, the Indian Premier League final is under way between two heavyweight sides at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
2013 winners Mumbai Indians are playing Chennai Super Kings - champions in 2010 and 2011 and runners-up three times - and have already lost a wicket, Parthiv Patel run out in the first over of the game.
England batsman Alex Hales, who is missing for Nottinghamshire after joining Mumbai on a short-term deal, was not selected for the final.
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England wicketkeeper Matt Prior: Leading from the front. Champion. Well played Alastair Cook!
Classy Cook
I'm going to (in cowardly fashion) duck any debate on the captaincy merits (or not) of Alastair Cook and focus solely on his batting at the moment. The 30-year-old has delivered a masterclass in building an innings in trying circumstances today (and a bit of yesterday).
It was testing last night and even more so this morning as Boult and Southee hooped it round corners and whipped away his initial partner Bell. But since then he has consolidated and then counter-attacked.
He ended 19 Tests without a century in the final game of the West Indies tour and now has two 100s in two matches. He is averaging just short of 65 this year.
Post update
Thanks Jamie. I'm pleased to report that the rain has pretty much stopped and the ground staff are taking a very casual approach to matters during this tea break. Hopefully, we won't have any problems cracking straight on after tea.
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hollie: Landed just in time to hear Cook getting his well deserved 100. Makes the nerve-wracking wait on the flight worth it!
Tea
Eng 261-4 (lead by 127)
With tea at 15:40 in any case, we are going to take the interval now in the hope that the rain clears. The BBC weather app says the rain will clear in a matter of minutes - and that is never wrong - so hopefully we will be able to resume promptly. There are still 41.3 overs to be bowled today, and they will be described by Phil Dawkes.
Text 81111
Paul in Manchester: Alastair Cook has batted well and has actually been in pretty decent form for a while. But that doesn't mean you can just dismiss all the criticism as idiotic. There are still some fairly big question marks over the decisions made in the past 18 months, his captaincy and the management of the team. As always, I think the truth lies somewhere between the two extreme positions.
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Jeremy Coney
Ex-New Zealand captain on BBC Test Match Special
"New Zealand got the wicket that they wanted. They would love to have two prior to that second new ball, which is about three overs away. This gives them time to rest up their legs so they are ready when that 80th over strikes."
Rain stops play
Eng 261-4 (lead by 127, Cook 105, Stokes 22)
Is Craig is the right man to bowl to Stokes, who has something of a licence to cut loose? There is plenty to feast upon and he plays a authoritative back foot shot for four. But the rain is heavier, it is affecting the ball and the hover covers are called for.
Eng 257-4 (Cook 105, Stokes 18)
The first umbrellas are up, and it is not to shield from the sun. Only a few drips at the moment, and I don't mean the ones under the MCC coloured protection. Actually it is a steady drizzle, they would definitely have been off in Dickie's day.
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Darren Hawkins: Nobody ever doubted Cook the batsman - it's Cook the captain which is the worry! - however he's delivered a captain's innings!
Beth Jakubowski: Thrilled for Cook. Well and truly back in the groove now. That's one of England's problems put to bed. The run machine is back.
Jon Adams: Fantastic century from Cook! Unlucky Root, but all this hard work is getting us right back in this match!
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Jeremy Coney
Ex-New Zealand captain on BBC Test Match Special
"The way McCullum is using Craig and give him a go he must feel there is a couple of good deliveries in him and he wants to draw those out. But the runs are accumulating. Craig is not the picture of a guileful spin bowler. If you are going to go at fives, you need to take wickets."
Eng 255-4 (lead by 121)
Stokes is relishing this number six role isn't he? It could turn out to be a masterstroke, the way he comes in and takes on the bowlers. He's got 17 from as many balls now, sweeping Craig for his fourth boundary.
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Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at Lord's
"Alastair Cook may not always be a popular captain, or even lead a popular team, but he is clearly a popular man. A first home Test hundred is greeted by sustained applause from the Lord's crowd, some genuine warmth towards the skipper and delight in his success. In other news, it feels like rain is coming."
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Jeremy Coney
Ex-New Zealand captain on BBC Test Match Special
"This next hour and a half is going to be the Test match. We have a new ball coming, it is starting to get darker, the lights are on, a wicket has been taken. Good finish for Stokes there after the drive that drew an edge."
Eng 250-4 (Cook 103, Stokes 13)
On the subject of lookalikes, Henry's bowling action bears quite a resemblance to Jason Gillespie, who is rumoured to be close to becoming the next England coach. Stokes has got his eye in now it is safe to say, with three successive fours, the first a little streaky past third slip but the next a sublime cover drive with the pose held for the cameras, 250 up after 74 overs.
How's stat?!
Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician
"That is Alastair Cook's fourth century at Lord's and third against New Zealand. It is the seventh time he has made a century with England going into a second innings with a deficit."
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Jack Cox: Well batted Alistair Cook, huge captain's innings when your team and country needed it most.
Michael Shaw: Well played Cookie, hopefully it will get some of the idiots of his back #classispermanent.
Tom Holmes: Now that that's two centuries for Cook, can we stop pretending he's not still one of the best batsmen out there?
Eng 236-4 (lead by 102)
The dulcet tones of Rod Tucker reveal that the impact was umpire's call and the ball was missing the stumps so umpire Ravi is able to breath a sigh of relief and, more importantly, so is Cook.
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Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special
"It is a half-hearted sweep shot, an un-Alastair Cook shot. The redeeming feature is that the umpire has given it not out so it has to be hitting full on."
Umpire review
We are going to have a look here as Craig appeals for an lbw against Cook. Not out is the original verdict.
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Chris Watkins: Glorious from Alastair Cook. Doubt his captaincy or pandering to ECB politics all you want, he's one of our best. Excellent.
Sally Smith: Two centuries and another two 50s in the last 4 Tests... Cook is well and truly back!
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Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special
"A very good innings. He played well this morning, but also last night. It was a tricky situation and the light wasn't good. He has got his reward here for playing really well."
100 for Cook
Wonderful century for a delighted England skipper, his 27th in Test cricket, his fourth at Lord's. He waves his bat jubilantly towards the balcony and after all that malaise in recent months it is nice to see that beaming cherubic smile. He reached three figures in fine style with an off-drive off Henry for three.
Will the rain hold off?
According to the BBC weather forecast, it should start raining at Lord's any moment now...
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Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special
"New Zealand will try to cramp Cook and keep him on tenterhooks. He just has to wait. It looks like he might get some bouncers from Henry. Cook needs to keep out of it. No hooking. England don't need another sucker wicket to fall."
Eng 233-4 (Cook 99, Stokes 0)
Only one over for Williamson and the other spinner Craig returns. Cook takes a single but that is the only scoring in the over as Stokes, with his heavily tattooed arms, calmly plays out the rest of the over and acclimatises to conditions, which remain overcast but dry.
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Maddy Raman: Why did he do that? Root looked behind him to see where the fielder was & hit it straight to him. Like catching practice.
Fi: That is stupid and unprofessional by Joe Root. It's NZ saying we know you're stupid enough to fall into this trap!
Eng 232-4 (lead by 98)
There are two men out for the hook for Henry to Stokes but after seeing Root depart in that fashion he is not going to take that shot on ...yet.
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Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special
"He has bowled him three bouncers, he has planned it. He deserves some credit does the bowler. He suckered him out. The thing for England is that it is actually 98-4. Another batsmen gets out now and it will be interesting evening session."
WICKET
Root c Boult b Henry 84 (Eng 232-4)
Joseph. There should have been two hundreds for you in this match young man. Fabulous innings, but a succession of short ones from Matt Henry replacing Southee and he hooks one straight to fine-leg.
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Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special
"I just hope the two batsmen have spoken and reminded themselves they are really 96-3 here. Another couple of wickets and they are 120 ahead for five down then it is a difficult situation."
Eng 232-3 (lead by 98)
The groundstaff have had all manner of equipment out in the centre tending to the pitch, only the best gear here of course. McCullum turns to Kane Williamson for some off-spin and gives him two slips to Cook. Williamson's action has been under scrutiny before of course, and it is still not as pure as the driven snow. Rightfully watchful to start with from the two batsmen.
England v New Zealand lookalikes
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Andrew from Bristol: James Anderson and snooker player Mark Selby are lookalikes, even have same celebration face!
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Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special
"I think England have done well. They got through that early period. It is a good pitch for scoring runs. There has been a moment or two when bowlers have had the upper hand. What hurts New Zealand is that their spinner is ordinary. You have to bowl with precision but his line and length is all over the place. It is help yourself bowling."
Drinks break
Eng 230-3 (Cook 97, Root 83)
Southee tries a few short ones. The light is not perfect because of the overcast conditions but nothing to alarm the batsmen, it's not Colin Croft in drizzle with all the lights on the scoreboard. Time for a drink.
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Jack Allum: Credit to Cook- an excellent innings so far. Shows what he can do when he comes out of his bunker.
Isaac Cooper: England finally showing that patience and timing is what you need in difficult conditions.
England v New Zealand lookalikes
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Adam Ross: Ross Taylor is Ed Miliband's other brother #deadringer.
Eng 229-3 (lead by 95)
Left-arm seamer Corey Anderson replaces Craig at the Nursery End, you must be able to find a lookalike for him, with his chiselled good looks. Root picks up up three with a neat cut shot, and with two men close in on the legside and none at all in the cover area, Cook moves within a four of his hundred.
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Mike Bell: Root batting well, as when he first came into team. They moved him up order, didn't work. Doing well again. If it ain't broke...
Will: Leave Root exactly where he is please. No captaincy and no moving up the order. If it ain't broke don't uproot.
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Jonathan Agnew
BBC Test Match Special
"New Zealand's performance in this innings has been like England's in the first innings. They have bowled well and beaten the bat but failed to get as many wickets as they should have."
Eng 224-3 (Cook 94, Root 80)
Root is in sublime form as we know but a well struck pull off Southee is close to the fielder diving to his left at backward square-leg. It may have been a half chance but the ball was travelling at such a speed, at such a flat trajectory and far enough from the dive that the dropped catch graphic will not be utilised.
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Phil Tufnell
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special
"Cook looks more balanced. He is getting to the pitch of the ball quickly."
Eng 220-3 (lead by 86)
A better over from Craig, mixing up his pace a little, but there is still a loose one and Cook seizes on it, pulling in front of square emphatically to the boundary. Six away from a century, skipper.
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scott lennon: Root gets the best out of anyone. After a tough year since, is there an argument for him to open the batting again? Matured a lot.
James Benson: Chef rustling up a daddy at Lord's. Summer has officially arrived.
Andrew Morris: England's past and future at the crease... working on England's present.
Eng 215-3 (Cook 90, Root 75)
The change is made at the Pavilion End as Southee replaces Boult, but Cook looks in assured touch, punching off the back foot for his 10th boundary. What a partnership this is, and the captain is into the 90s.
England v New Zealand lookalikes
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Harry Smith: Trent Boult is Stewart Downing's doppelganger.
Some of Downing's shots on goal swing quite sharply too...usually into the upper tier....
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Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special
"Craig just keeps releasing the pressure created by Boult at the Pavilion End."
Eng 209-3 (Craig 0-55 from 12)
Craig is performing an important role, he is keeping the over rate up a bit. The in-form England pair are able to rotate him comfortably for singles though, too many short ones from the spinner....cue a snorter next over...but will McCullum keep him on?
England v New Zealand lookalikes
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Tabshir Sikder: The NZ opening batsman Tom Latham and Zac Efron are practically doppelgangers.
Eng 203-3 (lead by 69)
More imagination from skipper McCullum trying to unsettle Cook. There are two men within a couple of yards of each other in the covers, one closer than the other. Then one is moved to straight short mid-on. But these complicated plans are ruined by a ball on the pads from Boult, which allows Cook to flick another boundary. The England captain is planning a long vigil here, the 200 up after 62 overs.
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Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special
"It's such a shame that New Zealand are only playing two Test matches. It's visit, not a series. I'd love to have seen them playing three or four Tests."
Eng 199-3 (Cook 77, Root 72)
Craig's Achilles heel, a loose one to release the pressure. This time it is the first ball of the over, a full toss, which Root in this imperious form is not going to miss out on. He puts it away beautifully for four.
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Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at Lord's
"New Zealand have been doing some thinking over the lunch break. Have a look at this field for Joe Root, with Trent Boult bowling round the wicket, swinging the ball into the right-hander. Remember, Boult almost had Root lbw before the break. Now there's a slip, gully and short cover on the off side, with a short mid-wicket and leg gully on the on. There was also a short square leg that was then pushed back to the fence. What's the thinking?"
Eng 195-3 (lead by 61)
Three slips and a gully for Cook as Boult continues with his probing line, if only all captains were this inventive. Just the one single to Root with a nudge off his pads.
England v New Zealand lookalikes
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Joe Baker: Alastair Cook and James Tompkins, the West Ham United defender. Scarily similar!
Eng 194-3 (Cook 77, Root 67)
Craig has a nice loop to his action but it all looks a bit predictable for the England batsmen and Cook sweeps purposefully for his eighth four, the seventh conceded by the spinner, who has 32 wickets from nine matches. As if to highlight the danger of that statement to England supporters there is an edge from the skipper, but it falls well short of the slip fielder.
Yorkshire pudding with chicken?
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Rob Zabrocky: Re Stephen Shemlit (13:50). I had an onion and bacon Yorkshire pudding with breakfast this morning. There is no rule.
Eng 190-3 (Boult 1-36 from 18)
Needlessly risky single from Cook there, Root was not expecting it and set off late. He was well out of his ground but substitute fielder Luke Ronchi's throw from the covers missed its target. Just the one slip for Boult with his left-arm inswingers from round the wicket to Root and a man out for the hook, but young Joe plays a straight bat.
England v New Zealand lookalikes
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Mike Bell: Re these cricketing lookalikes. Sorry to say that Ian Bell no longer looks like Ian Bell.
Eng 189-3 (lead by 55)
Not sure who Craig reminds me of, he is a short, stocky lad with a thickish dark beard. Henry VIII would be unkind, maybe it is just someone who works here, or a barman somewhere. Root is fully confident with the sweep shot against him, however, and pummels another four.
England v New Zealand lookalikes
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Harry Jones: Jos Butler and Bath's George Ford. Those two were separated at birth.
Eng 181-3 (Cook 71, Root 62)
Left-armer Boult from the Pavilion End with his delightful natural arc moving the ball away from the left-handed Cook in the low 80's mph. Three slips and a gully in place for the edge but nothing on offer from the England skipper, who digs out a yorker expertly and collects two.
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Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at Lord's
"During the interval was in the lunch queue, chicken on offer. Man in front of me gets offered a Yorkshire pudding. 'Oh no, not with chicken. That's not cricket.' Is that a rule? I had no idea."
Eng 179-3 (lead by 45)
Root keeps the scoreboard moving in his usual positive way, sweeping the final ball of the over behind square for his ninth boundary. Excellent stuff.
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Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special
"New Zealand are ahead, just. if England have a bad, bad session, they will lose this Test match. If New Zealand have a bad, bad session, they can still get out of it."
Afternoon session
Thanks very much Phil. Well, who would have thought when Ian Bell went to the third delivery of the morning and the ball was swinging around like certain dissatisfied middle-aged couples that 101 runs would be added for no further loss? Great testament to Cook and Root's evaluation of the match situation.
Rain is expected this afternoon but, though it has clouded over, it is not here yet and it will be the rather unpredictable spin of Mark Craig to begin the afternoon session. Twenty-six overs until the new ball, when presumably Boult and Southee will be lethal again.
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I'm off for my lunch so I'll hand you over to Jamie Lillywhite for the afternoon.
England v New Zealand lookalikes
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NickP: Trent Boult is a dead ringer for British actor Nicholas Hoult.
Can anyone better that lookalike from this game? Send them in... Tweet using #bbccricket, email tms@bbc.co.uk or text 81111.
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Kevin Howells
BBC Radio 5 live sports extra at Taunton
On speculation Yorkshire coach Jason Gillespie will be appointed England coach: "Plenty of chatter - and it is nothing more than that at the moment - that it could be wrapped up by the end of the week."
Yorkshire preparing for Gillespie exit
Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at Lord's
"Yorkshire are making plans for the possible departure of Jason Gillespie to become England coach.
"Former Australia fast bowler Gillespie has met twice with England cricket director Andrew Strauss and is understood to be ready to accept the job if he is offered it by the England and Wales Cricket Board.
"If Gillespie leaves Headingley, the county champions are likely to put director of cricket Martyn Moxon in charge for the rest of the season, with and a permanent replacement appointed in the winter."
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Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special
"Not to be left out here's my picture with the lovely Joanna Lumley when she joined us in the @bbctms box yesterday."
Anyone else think these two would make a good addition to the next series of Gogglebox?
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Jeremy Coney
Ex-New Zealand captain on BBC Test Match Special
"A session of two parts; New Zealand really demanding in that first hour, very good swing bowling, full, Bell found out early. England had to work really hard to stay only three wickets down but were able to develop their game and Root and Cook have seen out the second hour particularly well."
Lunch scorecard
England 175-3 (54 overs) - lead by 41 runs
Batsmen: Cook 69*, Root 58*
Fall of wickets: 14-1 (Lyth 12), 25-2 (Ballance 0), 74-3 (Bell 29)
Bowling figures: Boult 16-5-33-1, Southee 15-2-50-2, Henry 14-2-47-0, Craig 7-0-31-0, Anderson 2-0-8-0
First innings: England 389; NZ 523
Full scorecard
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James Clarke: Re Jack (1159), Cook & Root cashing in for their patience, resolve and solid defence whilst in 'ultra defensive mode' earlier.
Sam Hollis: Root would swagger into any team in the world at the moment, that's how good he is.
Lunch
And that is lunch. Boult is unable to make the breakthrough before the break. After a horrible start, England have rallied superbly. Cook and Root consolidated before counter-attacking to move past New Zealand's first-innings total and take a 41-run lead.
It restores hope for the home side but there is a long way still to go.
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Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at Lord's
"On the review, it took Rod Tucker a long time to decide there was no bat, but seconds to see that the impact wasn't enough to overturn the decision. Root's fate was always most likely to hinge on the ball-tracker, so why not do that first? Would have saved time."
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It looked high at full speed. It still looks high on replays. And it is indeed too high to overturn the umpire's on-field decision. Not out.
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Jeremy Coney
Ex-New Zealand captain on BBC Test Match Special
"They are discussing if it got a nick from the bat but that shouldn't matter. It has nearly hit him on the neck!"
Umpire review
Boult delivers the last over before lunch. He starts over and gets little joy from Root, but switches to around the wicket and sparks a review to an lbw call that catches the England batsman high on his pad as he goes back and is turned down on-field.
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Charlotte Austin: Joe Root can change gear so easily. He can just read the game and conditions superbly.
Howard Horner: These two have played wonderfully. Defended and left so well, NZ are now trying to bowl magic balls and it's not happening.
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Jeremy Coney
Ex-New Zealand captain on BBC Test Match Special
"These two batsmen have subdued the attack. It is not the same Boult, not the same snap we saw at the start of the day. England are starting to get a measure of control but they have to be careful."
Eng 174-3 (England lead by 40)
Root is giving Craig no room for error. Every loose ball now is getting punished. The spinner drops short and the Yorkshireman rocks back and pulls to backward square-leg for four. Another single brings up the 100 partnership, with the second 50 coming from just 53 balls. Anyone on Twitter want to complain about how slow England are going?
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Tim in Sheffield: The key thing is to make sure we're far enough ahead come the second new ball.
Simon Reynolds: Seems no coincidence that since Root has come to the crease, Cook has looked more comfortable. Root seems to get the best out of his partners. He truly is class, surely a future captain.
Eng 169-3 (Root 52, Cook 69)
Boult is back, looking to reverse the momentum that is starting to shift away from New Zealand. He doesn't possess the same zip he had earlier, though, and has to rely on disciplined consistency. He finds it and Cook pats him back for a maiden.
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Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician
"In his Test matches at Lord's, Root has now got to 50 six times in his 10 innings."
50 for Root
Eng 169-3
Root was firmly in first gear for his first 10 overs. He is now accelerating and slipping into third. Craig over-pitches and Root picks up a couple of boundaries with well-timed sweeps - one a slog-sweep over mid-wicket, the other a more delicate dabble finer. That's right Joe, get your bat up. You've earned it son. He has now passed 50 in seven of his last nine innings.
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Test Match Special: The view from the TMS box as @Aggerscricket and @MichaelVaughan watch Cook and Root battle through morning session.
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Jeremy Coney
Ex-New Zealand captain on BBC Test Match Special
"A terrific session. It has got a little bit easier for England but they've had to battle hard. Root has been beaten several times and nearly caught but now he has got the benefit. The way New Zealand have bowled they could have had two or three extra wickets."
Eng 161-3 (Root 44, Cook 69)
This is developing into a superb stand. These two dug deep to see off some superb New Zealand bowling and now they are reaping the rewards as the Kiwi standards dip. Root rocks back and, like an efficient lumberjack, chops to send Henry's third ball fling past gully for four. He then picks up three with a drive down the ground off the last.
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Jeremy Coney
Ex-New Zealand captain on BBC Test Match Special
"Craig will go for a few runs but occasionally bowl a beaut. Too many times in that over he was too short. He's got to bring the batsmen forward, both times when he did he beat the bat."
Eng 152-3
Craig finds his length and some spin to send one twirling away from Cook's tentative forward dab. However, after finding the perfect length. he goes to the other extreme with a horror-delivery that pitches wide and spins wider that has Latham diving to grab with one hand. That was almost yips territory. Just to keep Cook guessing, he ends with another that draws Cook forward and beats his bat. Sublime to ridiculous and back to sublime again. A ridiculous sandwich, with top quality bread, if you will.
Eng 148-3 (Root 34, Cook 67)
Root extends England's lead with a well-timed punch through midwicket off Henry, but gets a reminder that his side's position is precarious with a fullish ball that nips back of the pitch and jags between bat and stumps. This Test is like a well-matched boxing fight at the moment full of punches and counter-punches. England ensure they win the 48th over courtesy of a Cook pull for another four.
Eng 139-3 (England lead by 5)
McCullum tweaks his bowling attack by spinning Mark Craig into the mix. He is a man who appears to sculpt his beard, which immediately makes me suspicious of him. Cook eyes him warily for a couple but then twice rocks back to pick up two boundaries - courtesy of a cut and a pull - that propels England into the lead.
Scorecard update
England 131-3 (46 overs) - trail by 3 runs
Batsmen: Cook 55*, Root 29*
Fall of wickets: 14-1 (Lyth 12), 25-2 (Ballance 0), 74-3 (Bell 29)
Bowling figures: Boult 14-4-32-1, Southee 15-2-50-2, Henry 12-1-29-0, Craig 3-0-6-0, Anderson 2-0-8-0
First innings: England 389; NZ 523
Full scorecard
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Philip Brooks: People would be complaining if Cook tried to up the pace and got out cheaply. Seems damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.
Rob Meech: People must separate Cook the captain from Cook the batsman. I don't think he should be skipper, but he's a fine batsman.
Eng 131-3 (New Zealand lead by 3)
People are still finding their way to their seats at HQ. One bloke struggles down the steps carrying four pints of lager in one of those paper holder thingies that are always flirting precariously on the edge of disaster. Perhaps a metaphor for... Henry charges in, Root fends him off for a maiden.
Eng 131-3 (Root 29, Cook 55)
Corey Anderson, built more like a cage fighter than a cricketer, lumbers in for another over. Root and Cook are set, though, and he poses no problems. After the stand-off of earlier, this pair are starting to find runs easier to come by, courtesy of flicks, nudges and nurdles.
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Mike Fisher: Circumstances bring batting styles. Cook can dig in, bat long, and allow others to score quickly then there's hope for England.
Gregory Mumford: Cook finding his form, hoping to see 150 today, perfect partner in Root, if it stays dry, they can be there all day.
Crazy cricketing attire
Text 81111
Digby in Durham: When I was a working as a gappy at Ryan Harris' old school in Adelaide I used to umpire in my kilt... which caused quite a stir when the wind picked up!
128-3 (New Zealand lead by 6)
The New Zealand bowlers have been so tight, so consistent, so effective, but there are signs that they are starting to flag a touch. Henry drops short outside off and Root is on it with a flashing back-foot drive that sends the ball skipping away to the backward point boundary. That was practically swashbuckling. The lead is down to single figures.
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Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special
"Cook is a typical opening batsman, very stubborn, very single minded and that's what you need to be. When you look back to his best in 2011 he wasn't playing much one-day cricket. Now he's just playing Test cricket it's going to be a lot better for him, keeping it as simple as possible."
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Jim: This is a typically disciplined performance by a southern hemisphere side. Like their rugby, disciplined, with the mental strength to bowl accurately and just wait for the batsman to make a mistake. England just don't have that ability, hence they play at balls they shouldn't.
Howard: Having watched England for 40 years now, I do chuckle at some of the comments on here. Remember it's a five-day game and sometimes a war of attrition. But this is Test cricket.
123-3 (Root 22, Cook 54)
As if he is hearing some of the nonsense criticism from the social media snipers, Cook rocks back to a short ball from the newly-introduced Corey Anderson and hammers a cut through point for four.
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Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special
"It's been fantastic cricket to watch, high class from New Zealand who have got the ball moving around. That first over from Southee every ball seemed to be doing something. England still under a huge amount of pressure and there is still a bit of shape through the air."
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Mark Valentine: Don't understand the criticism of these two for playing defensively. Ball is moving around like crazy and they need to concentrate on keeping their wickets. Runs can come later.
Freddy: People complaining about Cook's mindset for these couple of sessions is ridiculous. We need a captains innings here. And a big one.
I'm with Freddy. Any criticism of this Cook innings is ridiculous. These are tough conditions and circumstances for batting. He knows he needs to stay there. There will be a time for more expansive cricket later.
Eng 118-3
There are small signs that Joe Root is looking a tad more expansive in his shots. He guides a Southee delivery through gully with an open face to pick up a boundary and then gets forward to drive twice with intent, both of which bring him two runs. They momentarily lift the Lord's crowd out of its murmur.
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Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician
"Cook has made a fifty 67 times now - that's past Graham Gooch as the most for England."
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Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special
"Cook has been working with Graham Gooch and he has got his trigger movements back to where they were a couple of years ago."
Eng 109-3 (Root 16, Cook 50)
Cook's half-century was amassed in exactly three hours of very challenging Test cricket. Henry continues to get the ball to swing and Root picks up another single with an inside edge that has the bowler yelping in hope that he may have claimed another scalp.
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Stuart: Of course Boycott would like Cook's approach. Slow and steady. The game's moved on. He's not a Brendon McCullum, which is fine, but he doesn't move the game forward; gets out and then the collapse starts. Thank heaven for Root.
Jon: Slowly slowly boys, got to bat out the day, lead of 250 to then tempt them into a chase tomorrow...but you must stay in the middle to get there!
50 for Cook
Eng 108-3
England's captain punches one down the ground off Henry and picks up three runs that take him to 50. His 41st in Test cricket. He acknowledges all sides of the ground but it is every inch the celebration of a man with a big job still to do.
Drinks break
Drinks time. Well, it started horribly for England but they have consolidated well. Cook and Root confer over a beverage, no doubt re-iterating the over-riding imperative to still be around at lunch.
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Alec Stewart
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special
"Testing times for Cook & Root but so far so good. Plenty more of the same please..."
Eng 105-3
Brendon McCullum has been in the wars this morning. His hamstring appears to be OK after a mis-field earlier. Now he shakes his finger after mis-fielding another at extra-cover. I think he caught it on the end of one of his digits. I know how that feels. His nail will be a deeper purple than Blowers' loafers come morning. Root plays a loose shot to a short ball from Southee that nips away and past his outside edge. The batsman chastises himself for the momentary lapse.
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Jack Allum: Root and Cook gone into ultra defensive mode already. No need for it. We need to score runs. Not just survive.
Thomas Kirman: People are looking for a reason to drop someone, in this case Bell, so a certain someone can be accommodated.
103-3 (Root 10, Cook 46)
Having been so conservative (as a necessity) Cook is given the chance to open up to a short Henry ball, which he pulls at and pads past Latham down the leg side for four leg byes. The England 100 is up. They are delicately eating into the lead. Slowly, slowly, catchy... er... Kiwi.
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Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special
"This is right up Cook's street: bat all day, get 120-130. Don't over-complicate it by trying to play every shot in the book. He's very good at that. He's a top player."
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Ed Smith
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special
"I haven't seen a better concentrator playing for England. I can't think of anyone better at getting into a space, staying calm and blocking it all out."
Scorecard update
England 97-3 (38 overs) - trail by 37 runs
Batsmen: Cook 44*, Root 10*
Fall of wickets: 14-1 (Lyth 12), 25-2 (Ballance 0), 74-3 (Bell 29)
Bowling figures: Boult 14-4-32-1, Southee 13-2-39-2, Henry 8-1-18-0, Craig 3-0-6-0
First innings: England 389; NZ 523
Full scorecard
Eng 97-3 (New Zealand lead by 37)
Brendon McCullum shuffles his pack again by bringing back Southee, but Cook's keeps his concentration. He flicks one to leg to add another single. Such is their scarcity that every run is being applauded now.
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Bush: Can I remind everyone that @Ian_Bell hit a Test hundred last month?
Antony Stewart: Bell won an Ashes series single-handed, has hit a little rough patch, and people want him dropped! Pipe down.
Eng 95-3 (Root 9, Cook 43)
Cook and Root need to accept that their bat will be beaten on occasion today. This Kiwi attack is world class and the conditions and perfectly suited to their style or swing bowling. The key is to move on immediately from being beaten, concentration unaffected. Root does just that with a solid response to a Henry ball that nips away from his outside edge early in the 37th over of the innings.
Eng 94-3
Cook looks calm and composed with a determined focus to his game. We all know he can bat and bat and bat if required in tough circumstances. He will gain confidence from each challenging over he is able to see off. He manages Boult's latest with ease and is unfortunate not to get some runs with a checked drive through extra-cover that has a fielder diving to stop.
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Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special
"Cook is playing well. His feet are going, his head is still, he's not rushing at it."
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Scott Brehaut: Some mad comments re Bell. He's usually class under pressure, getting some very good tons when needed. In bad spell, but class.
Will: Though I'm obviously hoping this won't happen: if Root gets out cheaply it would silence Mr Boycott. For a while at least.
Eng 94-3 (Cook 43, Root 8)
Henry has picked up with Southee left off. Full, swinging, applying plenty of pressure. New Zealand have been bang on the money so far this morning. Root is forced to go on the defensive to see out six balls for a maiden.
Eng 94-3
England are consolidating. Boult is posing a lot of questions with some devilish swinging deliveries but Cook and Root have so far managed to find adequate answers. However, the home side are so far from out of the woods, they may as well be wearing a red hooded cape.
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Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special
"If they just hang around they will get the odd ball to score off. Bell's shot was poor, he was on the walk, he didn't give himself any chance of playing it well. I don't know if his mind has gone because he's dropping catches and that's four knocks without many runs."
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Allan S: Re Merlyn (11:10) - because he has thousands of Test runs and more than 20 Test tons? The pressure thing is old news as well.
Haroon Junaidi: England should not look at this series as preparation for Ashes. Each match should be played like a cup final.
Eng 91-3
On comes Matt Henry for his first over of the day, replacing Southee. Cook keeps things sensible, leaving anything off the stumps and flicking a straight one through square to add two to the total. England are in survival mode. They could do with Bear Grylls out there.
Crazy cricketing attire
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Jon: This was football, not cricket, but a mate used ripped up Spider Man pants as sock ties! (Other super hero briefs are available)
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Tony Cocozza: I simply don't believe that we don't have better batsmen than this lot plying their trade in the county game. It is the selectors who need our criticism.
Nat: I wonder who could replace a struggling Ian Bell at number four...
Eng 89-3 (Cook 40, Root 7)
These are tense, nervous, watch through your fingers times for England. Root is caught on the back pad by an inswinger from Southee that causes a huge, mass appeal from the tourists. It is close, but deemed to be missing down leg by the on-field umpire. Replays show it was a good call. There are more hooping balls out there than the Swingball factory.
Eng 89-3
The catch has come about from a Root flick off Boult that has the fielder at square-leg diving in to try and claim. Root was denied a similar catch yesterday courtesy of the judgment of Rod Tucker and his video equipment. If that wasn't a catch, then this surely can't be.... No, it's not. Root survives. Huge relief for England. It is Root's first aberration, a ball after driving his first four down the ground.
Eng 85-3
England hearts in mouths. We are going to have a replay to see if Joe Root has been caught at square-leg.
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Adam Wheeler: Here comes Root to dig England out of a hole. He can't do it all of the time. He will be the Aussies' target in the Ashes.
Chris Giles: Good to see how well a team performs when there are no 'trust issues'!
Eng 85-3 (Root 3, Cook 40)
New Zealand haven't had a worry in the world for the first 20 minutes of this session. They may have one now, though, as Brendon McCullum mis-fields to gift England three runs and then drops to the turf gripping his hamstring. It would be a disaster for the tourists to lose their skipper. As he limps around the field, Cook asserts himself by flicking a wayward Southee ball fine for four. The McCullum situation is one to watch.
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Boom: Ding Ding your time is up.
Sue: Oh dear, an early wicket. And so the endless negativity from England 'fans' begins...
Eng 78-3
Finally, a cheer from the Lord's crowd as Cook steers a shortish ball from Boult down to the wide third-man boundary for the first boundary of the day, the first runs of the day. It is a very tentative cheer, though. The kind you might hear for a last-minute consolation goal from a side who are already 5-0 down.
Eng 74-3 (Cook 32, Root 0)
Graham Gooch watches on at Lord's. His glum face says it all. Joe Root watches another Southee over go by. No shot played unless it is necessary. How Joe would love to be coming to the wicket in a position of strength. Unfortunately, he is an England middle-order batsman. It is not in the current job description.
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Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at Lord's
"I was at the bottom of the media centre, which backs on to the nets on the Nursery Ground, when the wicket of Ian Bell went down. Moeen Ali immediately began to make his way round to the pavilion. He wasn't getting caught out again."
Crazy cricketing attire
Text 81111
Jon: Hats off to you for the gonzo socks, put some thought into it myself and went with Kermit ones this morning, the frog was a natural born leader...well kind of! And that's what we need from our two experienced hands at the crease today!
Luce in Manchester: When I played cricket for a local ladies team I used to wear knee high rainbow toe socks on match day.
Eng 74-3
As you'd expect, it is Trent Boult opening up with Southee. He finds a superb line and length outside off stump that has Cook pondering a shot or two but opting against anything rash. If ever a side needed a captain's innings it is England right now.
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Merlyn: Ah Ian Bell you don't disappoint. Why are we sticking with him? Always always crumbles under pressure.
Freddie Jones: Start game at 11, wicket lost by 11.01.. Only England.
Eng 74-3 (Cook 32, Root 0)
England are on the rack. Root is welcomed to the crease with another belter from Southee that rises from a length and zips away from his outside edge. You can stick a silver fern in that first over. New Zealand owned it.
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Phil Tufnell
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special
"Beautiful delivery by Southee, started about off stump, full length, enticing the drive. It swung away beautifully and a good catch by Latham - you could see the relief on his face. Worst possible start for England."
WICKET
Bell c Latham b Southee 29 (Eng 74-3)
Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. To only the third ball of the day, Bell reaches for a full outswinger from Southee that takes a nick and is claimed by a delighted Latham. Once again, England are going to be reliant on the class of Joe Root to dig them out of a deepening hole.
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Jeffrey Yeung: Even if rains stops play in the afternoon and pushes the match towards a draw, I feel England can't lose wickets before lunch.
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He could play these with his water bottle. Geoffrey shows England the way.
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Right then Alastair, Ian, what have you got for us? Time to dig deep into that well of experience lads. HQ is quickly filling up, the fielders and umpires are out, followed soon after by the England pair, who bounce about with intent on their way to the crease. Here we go again. Hold on to you hat/sweat-stained cap.
What condition is the pitch in?
BBC Radio Test Match Special
Test Match Special's Henry Moeran: The pitch at Lord's - a few marks in it but no overly dramatic relics from the first three days.
Watch the video here
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Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special
"Somebody has to make a hundred, it's that glue that holds everything together. Just because they bowl a good ball doesn't mean they are going to get you out."
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Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at Lord's
"Consider this. Over the first three days of this match, we have seen an average of 329 runs (with a little rounding up) and sevenish wickets. If that continues today, England would be all out or very nearly cleaned out, with a lead of about 270. Wouldn't that set up a fascinating final day?"
Start-of-play scorecard
England 74-2 - trail by 60 runs
Batsmen: Cook 32*, Bell 29*
Fall of wickets: 14-1 (Lyth 12), 25-2 (Ballance 0)
Bowling figures: Boult 9-2-22-1, Southee 9-0-30-1, Henry 5-0-15-0, Craig 3-0-6-0
First innings: England 389; NZ 523
Full scorecard
Worst piece of cricket clothing
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In honour of my socks and Blowers' loafers, why not let us know the worst piece of kit you don to either play or watch cricket. Have you got a 25-year-old cap with sweat rings? Or a jumper so moth-eaten you don't know which hole to put your head through? The Answer is an easy one for the current England side, it's those new jumpers. Terrible.
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What about the weather?
BBC weather presenter Jay Wynne: "Temperatures already up to 17 or 18 but a quick look out to the west and it is beginning to cloud over. There is every possibility of at least some rain in the next few hours, so a changeable sort of day. Much better prospects for Bank Holiday Monday, where it should be a full day."
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Jeremy Coney
Ex-New Zealand captain on BBC Test Match Special
"It's a batting day today, mother nature is favouring the England side. Let's see if they can take advantage."
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Looking good HQ, looking good.
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I'm not the only one who has made a dubious fashion choice this morning. Say hello to Blowers' purple loafers.
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Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special
"This morning is such a key morning because conditions are good for batting. Yesterday we saw a pitch that changed as soon as the clouds got a bit heavy, New Zealand would have wanted those conditions and they haven't got them. It will be interesting to see how McCullum plays it, will he change from the first innings going on the attack all the time?"
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Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at Lord's
"Lovely morning at HQ, with the number of children in whites around Regent's Park suggesting there's a game on there too. There's a risk of rain later today and, at a guess, around a 35% chance of New Zealand winning this match today. England must dig a trench."
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I've got a pair of my Muppets socks on today. Gonzo in particular. They felt right considering England's predicament (bare with me, I'm going somewhere with this). Gonzo was the Muppets' eternal optimist, unbowed despite years of failure. No matter how many knocks he got, he kept strapping on his helmet and getting back in that cannon.
It is the kind of spirit England need to embrace today. Helmets on, back in the cannon, fuse lit and aiming for new heights. Unlike Gonzo's antics, there is no room for chickens.
England need heroes
In 1984, Welsh songstress Bonnie Tyler declared that she was holding out for a hero. Where have all the good men gone, and where are all the gods, she asked. Where's the street-wise Hercules, to fight the rising odds?
Well England are in need of a Herculean hero of their own today (preferably two). At the end of three days of an absorbing first Test at Lord's, the balance of the match is in favour of New Zealand, in the shape of a 60-run lead and two early England second-innings scalps.
Tyler needed her hero to be strong, fast, fresh from the fight, sure, soon and larger than life. England would make do with someone who can get to three figures.