James Taylor
Ex-England batsman on Test Match Special

England have to assess the conditions early on and adapt accordingly. Credit to New Zealand early on, they have asked questions early on. they have found movement, variable bounce and some nice late swing. Trent Boult and Tim Southee are an effective opening partnership.

Other than its nickname, the Cake Tin hasn't got much going for it. It's a rugby ground, really. A pretty soulless sphere, not nearly as lovely as the quaint Basin Reserve, which is also in Wellington. There are a couple of good things, though. One is that it is next to a port, with cruise liners able to peer over the top of the stand. A huge ship just does that today. Another is the creativity of the groundsman. He's mown a giant fern into the turf. Like what they used to do at Leicester City, but better.

Not as much swing for Boult when compared to Southee. The left-armer not yet bringing it back in to the right-handers. He continues with the back-of-a-length stuff, completing a maiden and getting a pat on the back from Colin de Grandhomme.

Close!published at 1.1 overs

1.1 overs

Eng 2-0

My word, batting looks harder than that Hodge conjecture. Trent Boult's first ball, shortish, disturbing the surface. Leading edge off Bairstow, looping into the air, but just out of the bowler's reach. I reckon 84 will be a good total.

James Taylor
Ex-England batsman on Test Match Special

When the ball swings late as it is doing for Tim Southee here it can be difficult and tough to adjust. He is such a skilfull bowler, shaping it away from the right-handed batsman. That was a beautiful first six deliveries from him.

That Southee spell I mentioned was 7-33. He swung it around corners. There's swing here too, away from England's pair of right-handers. The sun is shining and the sky is blue, but there's something about this ground that has the white leather hooping around. Roy is beaten a few times, the last of which is lifting snorter.

Here we go then. Jason Roy on strike, Jonny Bairstow at the other end. Tim Southee, who destroyed England in the World Cup on this ground three years ago, has the ball.

Image source, Getty Images

Where have you got to this evening? Have you braved the cold? Pub? Club? Night shift? Maybe you're lucky enough to be under the duvet, or somewhere that has sunshine. Let me know.

One place you probably aren't is the Cake Tin. It looks like there are more players, coaches and staff in Wellington than there are paying spectators.

Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

The look of a pitch can be in he back of your mind. Appearances aren't the only thing though - as my wife knows! If you are willing to be aggressive it can still be a good pitch, but if you knock it round it could sit up and you end dismissed softly. The more aggressive you are as a batsmen the better it is to bat on. If you have not batted on it before you might will look at it and think 'hmmm'.

James Taylor
Ex-England batsman on Test Match Special

I reckon this is one of the ugliest pitches I've ever seen. it's patchy with an inconsistent coverage of grass. Potentially variable bounce and pace. But in the T20 a few weeks ago it played well. The outfield has long grass but the boundaries are reachable and I expect England will take the aerial route. I feel that is the best way they play.

New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson (capt), Mark Chapman, Tom Latham (wk), Henry Nicholls, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult.

England: Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (capt), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler (wk), Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Tom Curran, Mark Wood.

I once played in a junior game, under 13s I think, that had to be abandoned because of snow.

You'll have seen plenty of examples of early season county matches where the players take the field in woolly hats.

The other day I noticed that Somerset's Max Waller was bowling to Marcus Trescothick in the Taunton snow.

And, while you're listening, you may feel compelled to get in touch. Usual rules apply - text 81111, tweet using the hashtag #bbccricket, external or email tms@bbc.co.uk.

The filthy weather has got me thinking of times that cricket has met extreme cold. I noticed not long ago that there was some ice cricket being played in Switzerland.

What about the times you've watched or played in daft conditions? Let me know.

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England skipper Eoin Morgan: "Like Kane mentioned it's not prettiest looking pitch and I would have done the same and bowled firs.

"In the first two games the best side has won and hopefully we can produce a performance today.

"We've gone with a bit of extra pace so Mark Wood comes in because I'm not sure if there is any sideways movement. Hopefully a bit of pace might make the difference and be more beneficial later on."

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson: "We've turned up and it looks like an interesting surface so we're going to have a bowl. It did play well in the T20 but we want to have a look at it first.

"We're playing the extra slow bowler as well so hopefully it will turn. Personally, it's nice to be back and looking forward to today. Ross Taylor is out and still working on his leg. It wasn't out best performance in the second ODI and we need to play better cricket against a good England side."