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

"I know people in England will think of McCullum as a swashbuckler, but when he got his 200 and his 300, there were plenty of defensive components. I know he's been working on his defence."

McCullum faced 559 balls for his 302 at the Basin Reserve against India in February last year.

Skies a bit brighter now at Headingley, and we have a repeat of the last over as McCullum adds a single and Watling finds a gap on the off side with a careful drive for four, this time wide of mid-off. A swashbuckling cut shot brings him four more, and he's going at a faster rate than his captain.

George Chandler: Every time you think one team is just about to get on top in this series, the other team snatches it back! Thrilling stuff.

Jonathan Williams: This is why Test cricket is the best as Sir GB says add +2 wickets to the score and it's not great. However if Brendan gets going.

Bryan Waddle
BBC Test Match Special

"Watling plays off the front foot with conservative ease. He uses the pace of the ball, doesn't try to overhit it."

As if nothing had happened and the rain was just an illusion, James Anderson resumes the attack from the Football Stand End, and Brendon McCullum restarts New Zealand's engines with a quick single. In contrast, BJ Watling stands tall at the crease, bat flapping high behind him, but adopts a defensive approach, waiting for the ball to hit as he works a four through cover point.

Image source, Getty Images

Sam from Kent: In disbelief that people think that Test cricket needs rejuvenation and four runs an over will do this. If you can't appreciate the technical and mental application that it takes to make a 300 ball 150 against all manners of attack then watch the IPL. Many of us genuinely find a hard fought maiden over more riveting than watching McCullum's brief innings.

Robert Coventry: Totally agree with Sam in Nottingham and disagree with those saying New Zealand's approach is great to see. This is Test cricket not a two innings Twenty20 match. The best Test match teams bat with patience, grind the bowlers down and then take the game away from them after 50 overs.

Players are coming back out and covers being removed. Goodness knows if we've lost any overs.

Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"I played at Windsor Castle once in a charity game, and I was caught at deep mid-wicket by Timmy Mallett, external as the Queen drove by in a 4x4. He was still dressed as Timmy Mallett circa 1985, with his 'Mallett's Mallet' he used to hit kids on the head with."

While Aggers reveals he was commentating on a match at Windsor Castle recently and cheekily called out "Bowler's name?" when Prince William came on to turn his arm over, the covers are brought on. But the umpires are popping out for a quick look in any event.

Jonathan Agnew
BBC Test Match Special

"In Africa, they call this a monkey's wedding - when it rains in the sunshine. The spectators are cowering under their umbrellas, but they're still shouting at the umpires to get on with it."

Image source, Reuters

Some of the good folk of Leeds are still huddled under umbrellas as Wood finishes the over, testing Watling with a bouncer, and after he helps himself to a two off his legs, the rain returns with a vengeance - and the players go off again.

And the covers only make it halfway onto the field before the umpires shoo them back off again and play resumes!

McCullum powerfully straight-drives Wood, Anderson gives chase from mid-off and throws himself full-length at the ball to turn a likely four into two, which brings up the 150. He knocks a single to fine leg, with noticeable rain in the air... and they're going off. But maybe not for long.

Anderson is following the current vogue of wearing two sweaters - but wearing a sleeveless sweater on top of a full-sleeved one. Fashion? Or bad sweater etiquette?

Hari in Bristol: Basing my view on this series, I feel Moeen is too useful a player with both bat and ball to write off. Looking at the team as a whole, the only two weaknesses really are Ian Bell and a lack of a frontline spinner. Seeing as our order goes down to around 9, is there possibility of a little switcheroo there? Then we'd have 8 batsmen (inc Stuart) and 7 bowlers (inc Joe), which is a relatively handy number of each!

James Anderson has a short mid-wicket posted for Brendon McCullum, who faced that uncharacteristic maiden over before tea and is immediately under way with a single to fine leg. Aggers thinks it's getting a little darker and is surprised the new Headingley floodlights aren't on.

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

"This game is on a bit of a knife-edge. I think New Zealand need 300 here - they only have four bowlers and the pitch isn't doing much. I think there's an opportunity for New Zealand to play slightly differently than they did in the first innings. This pair need to get New Zealand through to 200."

Mark Wood, who's removed New Zealand's two danger men in this innings, will take up the attack after tea, bowling to BJ Watling, who's watchful at first before steering the ball wide of mid-off for four.

Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician

"The last over before tea was a maiden from Jimmy Anderson to Brendon McCullum. It's the first maiden McCullum has faced in four Test matches. The last one was bowled by Pakistan's Mohammad Hafeez in Sharjah in November. In between maidens, he's faced 340 balls and scored 374 runs."

Thanks, James. Hope you're all enjoying the day's play, you might want to get some iron rations in here as it's going to be a long session - 45 overs left in the day.

Time for me to sign off and leave you in the hands of Mark Mitchener for the evening session...