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.

He could play these with his water bottle. Geoffrey shows England the way.

Image source, @BBCTMS

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.

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, external

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."

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?"

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

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.

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."

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."

Looking good HQ, looking good.

Image source, @BBCTMS

I'm not the only one who has made a dubious fashion choice this morning. Say hello to Blowers' purple loafers.

Image source, @HenryMoeranBBC

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?"

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."

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.

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.