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

"Not quite controlled from Cook. A ball from Southee that just held its line and bounced nastily in front of the slip cordon."

A rare mistake from Cook as he is drawn into a loose push against Southee, but soft hands help the ball to drop mercifully short of Mark Craig at second slip. With a left-hander and a right-hander at the crease, it's always tempting to rotate the strike, but England need to keep their wits about them - a sharp single has Brendon McCullum hurling one at the timbers from mid-on. Would have been close if he'd hit.

Sunnies on for Mark Craig now. That rain dance obviously hasn't worked. Craig has a tendency to throw in the odd rank delivery among the good ones and a wide half-tracker is pummelled to the boundary by Alastair Cook. Buttler has started with real intent and he asserts his authority against the spinner, stepping down the track again and flicking him to the mid-wicket boundary.

Chris Parker: What I'd give to have Paul Collingwood in for this match, would bat these 60 or so overs out comfortably.

Image source, Getty Images

Southee continues. Cook continues his serene progress with a pull to deep square, before Buttler plays out the rest of the over watchfully.

Martin: I can't remember the last time England's batsmen were in form at the same time, probably the 2011 series with India. Last year, Ballance was on top form and Cook couldn't score a run. This year it's the other way round.

Mark Craig replaces Kane Williamson. A sizeable committee of fielders surround Jos Buttler, and they're nearly in business as the batsman dinks one aerially behind square on the leg side. Buttler decides to take that risk out of the equation, charging down the track and clipping Craig to the midwicket boundary. The England keeper has come out in positive mood and earns another boundary with a powerful flick through square leg. An expensive over is concluded when a sharply turning delivery beats Luke Ronchi and runs away for four byes.

Image source, Reuters

Andrew Page, Manchester: Gentleman, what about James Vince at Hampshire? A better bat than Jason Roy at Surrey. And keep an eye on Leaning at Yorks.

Tim Southee takes the ball from the other end. Shafts of sunlight are beginning to permeate the thick banks of grey cloud over Headingley. Cook, ever patient, stonewalls his way through another maiden.

Image source, AFP

Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at Headingley

"The return from the chip shop at lunchtime was accompanied by a few spots of rain and, sure enough, the pitch was covered during the break. Plenty of fans in the chippy, one asking for his son to have his picture with Graeme Swann. 'You're a fan of Mr Swann, aren't you?" said the dad. Son thinks for a minute. 'Oh, yeah!'"

So who can save England here? Will it be Buttler, Moeen, or more likely, the rain gods? Williamson's second ball of the afternoon session is a gift, a wide full toss, but Buttler misses out. He gets off the mark to the next delivery though, steering a couple past extra-cover.

Image source, AFP

Thank you Mitch. Kane Williamson is going to continue after lunch, Jos Buttler on strike...

Plenty to talk about as ever - but it's back to the action now, with James Gheerbrant primed and ready to talk you through the afternoon session. New Zealand are five wickets away from a famous victory.

BBC Radio Test Match Special

The Independent's Stephen Brenkley on TMS: "I'm going to praise New Zealand more than I'm going to disparage England. They've played really well."

BBC Radio Test Match Special

The Sun's John Etheridge on TMS: "Stuart Broad wants to use the crowd to get at the Aussies. If Mitch Johnson bowls a wide, it won't be long before the crowd starts singing, 'He bowls to the left, he bowls to the right'.

"We're sort of sharpening our pens for the Aussies, but it will all be done with good class."

BBC Radio Test Match Special

The Independent's Stephen Brenkley on TMS: "Australia's behaviour in the World Cup final has long rankled with me. It was quite disgraceful the way Brad Haddin behaved towards Martin Guptill and Grant Elliott, who had been so magnanimous in victory in the semi-final."

BBC Radio Test Match Special

The Sun's John Etheridge on TMS: "Most people in the media were barking up the Gillespie tree as Yorkshire seemed resigned to losing him. Bayliss's CV is pretty impressive."

BBC Radio Test Match Special

The Independent's Stephen Brenkley on TMS: "This series has been played in a really good spirit. It'll be interesting what happens when snarling Australia turn up in a month - I'd expect they'll snarl back, rather than being the happy-clappy bunch they are at the moment.

"Trevor Bayliss is a nice understated chap, not what we'd regularly perceive from an Australian. But could you imagine Australia employing an Englishman? They jettisoned a South African [Mickey Arthur] pretty quickly."

Matthew Bennett: Only positive of this batting collapse has been the resolution of Cook. He has been fantastic amongst the ruins of the top order.

BBC Radio Test Match Special

The Independent's Stephen Brenkley on TMS: "Australia will be a different proposition. Boult is a very fine bowler, but Starc and Johnson could be finer.

"For the Ashes, I'd go for the pitches that we've had in this series. Let the best side win. Flat pitches, and Australia will win. England have got to start well in the series - it won't be a bloodbath, as John says, but it could if Australia get their noses in front at Cardiff."