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?

Tabshir Sikder: The NZ opening batsman Tom Latham and Zac Efron are practically doppelgangers.

Image source, AFP

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.

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."

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.

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?"

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.

Joe Baker: Alastair Cook and James Tompkins, the West Ham United defender. Scarily similar!

Image source, Getty Images

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.

Image source, Getty Images

Rob Zabrocky: Re Stephen Shemlit (13:50). I had an onion and bacon Yorkshire pudding with breakfast this morning. There is no rule.

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.

Mike Bell: Re these cricketing lookalikes. Sorry to say that Ian Bell no longer looks like Ian Bell.

Image source, PA

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.

Harry Jones: Jos Butler and Bath's George Ford. Those two were separated at birth.

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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.

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."

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.

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."

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.

I'm off for my lunch so I'll hand you over to Jamie Lillywhite for the afternoon.