ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Live Commentary - London (17 June 2026)

Down the leg side, slightly short, Daryl Mitchell misses out on the tuck.

Full and outside off, pushed towards mid off.

Huge, huge shout! Did this come back enough? Holdstock says no. Archer on his knees. Root on his knees. Rew on his knees. Should England take the review? No, is the answer from the home side. On a good length, outside off, Mitchell shoulders arms, with a good stride. The ball nips back in off the seam and catches him on the pads, prompting an LBW appeal. Height seems to be the factor and yep, Ball Tracking projects the ball to be going over the off stump.

The outswinger now, outside off, Daryl pushes at it and gets an outside edge. Does not carry to gully.

Another outswinger, but the length is way short of full. Easy leave for the batter.

Full and outside off, smothered into the covers. TEA ON DAY 1, NEW ZEALAND 166/4!

Outswing! Interesting. On a length, outside off, Tom Blundell shoulders arms and the ball moves away a mile! Well taken by the keeper.

Outside off again, let through once more.

That's a hattrick of leaves, well outside off.

Number four on the trot. And this was wider than the previous three.

Finally bat on ball. Good yorker and this one swings in! Blundell defends.

Just past! Down the leg side, Tom clips it past leg gully for a couple.

On a good length, outside off, nipping back in. Daryl Mitchell is caught in his crease as he looks to flick. Misses and is hit on the thighs.

Full and straight, Mitchell pushes this towards mid on.

Full and outside off, Daryl looks to drive but gets an inside edge towards mid on.

Around off, on a length, defended solidly.

Down the leg side, clipped behind square leg for a couple.

A bouncer now, Mitchell ducks.

Tossed up, much fuller, outside off, Tom Blundell jams it out, toward cover.

Landed outside off, Tom Blundell lets it be. The keeper, James Rew, is upto the stumps but cannot collect the ball. Fumbles and concedes a bye.

Pitched fuller, on off, Daryl Mitchell pushes it to the right of the bowler.

Full and around off, Mitchell pushes it towards mid on.

Just outside off, fuller in length, Daryl Mitchell taps it back to the bowler.

Terrific effort from Jacob Bethell. Short, outside off, Daryl Mitchell goes back and across and taps it behind point. The ball races away but so does Bethell. He charges towards the ball, gets there and with a valiant dive, pulls it back into play, going himself past the ropes. Saves a run for his side as the batters take three.

FOUR! Not that's some shot from Blundell!  Back of a length, width to offer, outside off. Tom Blundell hops and punches it hard through point for a boundary. 150 IS UP FOR NEW ZEALAND.

A sharp indipper this time. On a good length, outside off, Tom Blundell looks to work it to the leg side but misses. The ball goes off his pads towards gully.

Back of a length, pitching it just outside off, but nips in sharply to the batter. Tom Blundell lifts his willow up to make a leave at it, but it attacks in and hits the back thigh pad. Only if the ball had been delivered fuller, it would have been a sensational delivery.

FOUR LEG BYES. Lavish movement but it starts off too straight. Down the leg side, Blundell looks to clip it away, but misses. Still, the ball goes off his pads to the right of leg gully, to the fine leg fence. 50-RUN STAND IS UP, IN 56 BALLS.

On a length, around the pads, Tom Blundell misses his flick and hits on the thigh pad, before the ball rolls to square leg. Leg bye taken.

This one holds its line. On a length, outside off, Mitchell pushes it towards cover.

Harry Brook scoots from over the wicket and bowls on a good length, just outside off, Daryl Mitchell just steers it to backward point.

FOUR! Brook and Root will be smiling. On a length, outside off, Daryl Mitchell looks to heave it away and plays a rather ugly shot. He skews it off the outer half, but manages to clear mid off. Gets a boundary. The stand moves to 42 (48).

Short, outside off, turning away from the batter. Daryl Mitchell makes a leave at it.

Full and straight, Mitchell defends.

Fuller, at the stumps, Daryl Mitchell clips it to short mid-wicket.

Landed outside off, Mitchell lets it go.

FOUR! Runs are coming thick and fast now. Good-length delivery, wide outside off, Daryl Mitchell opens the face of the bat and steers it wide of the backward point fielder for four runs.

Full and straight, Mitchell lunges to defend it down the track.

On a length, outside off, Daryl Mitchell defends it down.

Outside off, dabbed into the off side.

A touch fuller, around off, Daryl Mitchell pushes it toward backward point and gets a quick single.

Outside off, punched back to the bowler.

Hard length, outside off. Daryl Mitchell steers it between backward point and gully and gets a couple of runs.

On a length, around off, coming in, pushed towards mid on.

FOUR! Oh, that has been hit with some intent. Full and outside off, Daryl Mitchell clears his front leg and lashes it over through cover, along the green carpet for four runs.

Down the leg side, Mitchell cannot clip it away.

On a hard length, on leg, Daryl Mitchell tucks it to mid-wicket for one.

FOUR! ELEGANT! No stopping that. Overpitched, outside off, Tom Blundell leans, expands his arms and drives it gloriously to the left of mid off for a boundary. The stand moves to 33 (40).

Angling in, on middle, Daryl Mitchell leans forward without much footwork and defends it down the track. 

Full and around off, Daryl Mitchell pushes it towards point.

On a nagging length, shaping away from the off pole. Daryl Mitchell opens the face of his blade and guides it between backward point and gully for a single.

On middle and leg, Tom Blundell flicks it through mid-wicket for a couple.

 Good-length delivery, on middle and leg, Blundell flicks it into the gap between mid on and mid-wicket and gets a couple of runs.

Outside off, solidly defended.

Down the leg side, Tom Blundell cannot get it away.

Aha... deliberate ploy? Or did that slip out of the hands? A full toss, around middle, Blundell is caught by surprise but manages to work it through mid-wicket for a couple.

On a length, outside off, Tom pushes it towards cover.

Down the leg side, shorter in length, TB looks to tuck it fine, but misses again.

Similar ball, clearly a plan. This time, Tom Blundell gets outside the line and shoulders arms.

And now this one zips past the outside edge. On a good length, outside off, Blundell plays inside the line but the ball moves away to beat him.

Full and outside off, Daryl Mitchell comes forward and defends it down the track.

Close, close, surely? Mitchell has been hit on the pads but the LBW appeal has not been entertained by Adrian Holdstock. Good-length delivery, on middle and leg, shaping down, but also there is a hint of an outswing. Daryl Mitchell looks to clip it but gets beaten on the inside edge and wears on the pad. After a loud appeal got rejected by the umpire, Fisher goes to his skipper, indicating that there's a bit of outswing which is straightening the delivery. Root takes a long time, but takes the review. The UltraEdge shows no bat involvement but the Ball Tracking shows that it's going down the leg side. Second review lost by England.

Full and a bit too straight, Mitchell gets across and clips it behind square leg for a single.

Close run! Full, around middle, Tom Blundell works it through mid-wicket and gets it in the gap. Now, it seems like it is just a single but Blundell calls for the second and Mitchell is caught off guard. He stutters but manages to make it in time at the bowling end, with a wide throw helping him as well.

Down the leg side, Blundell flicks it towards long leg for a run.

Outside off, pushed into the off side.

On a length, down the leg side, Tom Blundell looks to tuck it fine but misses. It is not a mistake from the bowler, but a plan. There is a leg gully waiting. After all, this field is not exclusive for Steven Smith, is it?

Similar ball, this time Blundell connects this time and works it past leg gully for a single.

A short ball, down the leg side, Daryl Mitchell looks to nudge it fine but misses.

Nice change. Baker slips in the full ball, outside off and Mitchell is caught napping. He is on his back foot and tentatively comes forward. He is able to leave the ball alone but had that been at the stumps, the cat might have been in front of the car's headlights.

On a good length, outside off, DM pushes it towards point.

The short ball comes, around hittable height, but Root has got that insured. There is the substitute, Shoaib Bashir, stationed at deep square leg for the pull. But Mitchell controls it nicely and gets a single.

Down the leg side, helped towards fine leg for a single.

Full, around off, driven towards mid off.

Full and outside of, Daryl Mitchell comes forward and drives it towards mid off.

Another crowd catch. On a good length, outside off, coming back in, Mitchell gets across and looks to tuck, but then takes his bat away. The ball goes off his hips to Jordan Cox at leg slip who dives to take the catch and the crowd is excited.

FOUR! Off the edge and away from the fielder! Josh Tongue pitches it up, on a good length, well outside off. Daryl Mitchell strides out and looks to offer an expansive drive. The ball catches the outside edge and flies wide of the gully fielder, who puts a dive to his right but fails to get near the catch. The ball races away to deep backward point for four runs.

On a length, around off, Mitchell defends it back down the track. Tongue looks to take his cap back but then, the umpire signals that it is a no ball for overstepping.

Around off, watchfully defended. Legal delivery this time.

Outside off, on a length, Rachin Ravindra pushes it towards cover.

OUT! CAUGHT! Sonny Baker gets his first wicket in Test cricket and he leaps up high to punch the air in celebration. This is what pace and bounce can do. Baker bowls this on the back of a good length, just outside off. Now, Ravindra looks to play that through the off side, but he is neither cutting it, nor guiding it. Whenever a pitch has good bounce and there is a real fast bowler producing the goods, you need to be on top of the bounce and use the pace. Ravindra just plays a half-hearted shot, like a dab, almost looking to guide the ball as an afterthought. The indecision costs him as the fast-moving ball catches the outside edge. The ball flies flat to gully, where Jacob Bethell makes no mistake to move to his right and take the catch near his chest. Ravindra too, cannot convert his start, as he departs for 33. 58/1 has become 107/4 for New Zealand.

A good short ball, outside off, coming in, Tom Blundell leaps and works it to the left of leg gully, getting on top of the bounce, for a single to get off the mark.

Double bluff. Baker goes fuller, outside off, Daryl Mitchell reaches out and pushes it through the covers for a run.

Very full, outside off, hint of tail in, Blundell watches it carefully and pushes it towards gully.

Full and outside off, Tom comes forward and pushes it with soft hands towards cover for a quick single. Fine over from the debutant.

A short ball, outside off, Rachin Ravindra plays a loose shot, away from his body, getting a bottom edge towards wide mid off. It is actually a silly mid off, in the form of Jofra Archer.

FOUR! CRISP! Slightly overpitched, outside off, Ravindra comes forward and drives it to the left of Archer at silly mid off, down the ground, for a boundary.

Outside off, pushed towards cover.

EDGED, FOUR! Ravindra is playing with his fortune here. A short ball, at a good height, around head and shoulder, Ravindra goes for the pull but is beaten by pace and bounce. The ball pitches and then shoots up, taking the top edge and flying over the keeper. There is a fine leg stationed but the ball goes just too fine, landing just short of the ropes and wide of the fielder.

Another bouncer, let through this time.

Outside off, worked towards short mid-wicket for a single.

On a length, outside off, left alone.

Around off, pushed towards cover.

Back of a length, outside off, nipping back in, Daryl Mitchell looks to defend but misses and gets hit on the thigh.

A sharp bouncer, but down the leg side. Mitchell takes his hands off the ball.

Outside off, Mitchell looks to drive through the off side but gets a thick inside edge through mid-wicket, for a single.

Dropped short, pulled towards deep mid-wicket for a run.

FOUR! Nice shot but Tongue won't be too perturbed. Full and wide outside off, Rachin Ravindra leans and looks to play the square drive, but he hits it a lot squarer and that too, uppishly. Luckily for him, it is in the gap and races to the fence behind.

Nice yorker, outside off, Ravindra stabs it out.

FOUR! There goes the salmon again! But this time, cannot catch its prey. On a good length, around leg and middle, Rachin Ravindra looks to defend but the ball straightens and out of nowhere, bounces extra. He is caught off guard and looks to fend but cannot prevent the outside edge. It flies behind but Jacob Bethell, almost like how he pouched Latham's edge, cannot quite grab the ball this time, as it whizzes past him to the deep third fence.

A wild bouncer slightly, Rachin ducks.

On a length, outside off, RR pushes it towards point.

Full and straight, gone! But, for the inside edge. Tongue gets this pretty straight and gets past Ravindra's flick, hitting him on the pads. The slip cordon goes up but Tongue does not appeal. He reckons there was an inside edge.

Full and around off, Daryl Mitchell pushes it towards cover.

On a good length, around middle and off, 130 kph, Mitchell nudges it towards short mid-wicket.

Full and around off, 131 kph, gentle outswing, Daryl walks down the pitch and pushes it towards cover.

DROPPED! Another plan nearly comes to fruition. England have kept a leg slip in place for quite a while now and a chance is created. But not taken. Full and around middle and leg, Daryl Mitchell gets across and flicks it towards fine leg. There is Jordan Cox stationed at leg slip and he dives to his left, but cannot hang on. Great effort though. Single taken.

On middle and off, let through.

A length ball, down the leg side, Rachin works it towards Ben Duckett at deep mid-wicket. He takes the single and wants the second but is sent back.

On middle and off, on a length, Daryl Mitchell works it through mid-wicket for a single.

A good bouncer, around middle and off, Rachin Ravindra keeps his bat below the ball. The ball keeps on flying after going past the batter, seaming towards the leg side, but the keeper, James Rew, keeps his eyes on the ball and dives full stretch to his right to stop the ball.

FOUR LEG BYES. A bit too straight this time. Too full as well. Ravindra looks to flick but misses. However, the ball goes off his pads, way past the diving keeper to his right, to the fine leg fence.

Full again, this time around off, Rachin comes forward and pushes it towards mid off. Sets off for a single but then quickly changes his mind.

A bouncer, but misdirected. Down the leg side, Rachin ducks comfortably.

Through the gate, but the batter is safe! What a nut. Excellent change of pace from Tongue. He slips in a slower ball, landing it on a length around off. RR lunges to defend but is beaten by the lack of pace. He is way too early as the bat comes down, but the ball comes much later. Goes between bat and pad and somehow, sneaks over the stumps to the keeper!

Full and around off, Daryl Mitchell defends it solidly.

Ooohh... play and a miss. On a good length, outside off, Mitchell looks to guide that behind point, looking for an easy single. Is more eager, hence, does not move his feet. Nearly nicks it behind.

This time, the single is earned and Daryl is off the mark. On a good length, outside off, Mitchell stays in his crease, waits for the ball to arrive and then plays it late through the covers, for a quick run.

Full and around off, Rachin Ravindra defends it towards mid off.

Comes wide off the crease, does Fisher, from over the wicket and bowls it on a fuller length on middle, at 135 kph. Ravindra pushes it towards point.

On a good length, around middle, coming back in, Ravindra defends it down the pitch.

Full and straight, from around the wicket, Rachin Ravindra defends.

Full and straight again, 143 kph, Ravindra defends it back towards the bowler.

Double bluff, but Ravindra was prepared. The fielding change suggested that a short ball was coming but Tongue slipped in a full ball, around off stump. But a prepared Ravindra came forward and worked it towards mid on for a quick single.

OUT! CHOPPED ON! The fielding placement works and Josh Tongue has his first wicket in this match. As mentioned earlier, England had kept a massive gap between gully and mid off, deliberately wanting Nicholls to force the ball off the back foot, through that gap. And in that process, either edge it behind or drag it on. The latter has happened. Around short of a length, outside off, Henry Nicholls looked to guide it behind point but was just too close to the ball. Also, it was not a shot played with conviction. It was a tentative one and hence, it was more of a poke rather than a confident dab. As a result, there was not much feet movement and the ball went off the inside edge onto the stumps. Nicholls looks at the ground in disappointment before trudging off. Another batter unable to convert his start, as he departs for 24. From 58/1, NEW ZEALAND ARE NOW 79/3 as England strike pretty quickly after Lunch. Hang on. The camera pans onto Tongue's landing on that ball - was there anything behind the line? Oohhh... need more looks at that, if we get multiple angles. But as far as the present situation is concerned, the ball is deemed legal.

A wild bouncer, down the leg side, Daryl Mitchell ducks. James Rew, the keeper, actually does well to leap to his left to prevent four byes. Keeps the runs to just a single.

On middle and off, watchfully defended.

Full and straight, from over the wicket, 130 kph, Henry Nicholls defends it towards mid off.

Hmmm... this one moves in from off stump. On a good length, Nicholls gets back and across, to defend it back to the bowler.

On a good length, around off, 128 kph, nipping back in, Henry is hurried into keeping this out. He is late but manages to push it towards mid on. Seems to suggest to his partner that the ball stayed low. Doesn't seem so from the replay.

Shorter, down the leg side, HN gets back and works it towards Ben Duckett at deep square leg for a single.

Another short ball and Ravindra pounces on it. But there is protection in the deep. This is pulled aggressively but straight to deep mid-wicket. Just a run.

Full and just outside off, going away with the angle, 133 kph, Henry Nicholls shoulders arms.

Full and outside off, 138 kph, from around the wicket, Rachin Ravindra gets a good stride to defend down the track.

Good movement in. On a length, outside off, Ravindra comes forward to drive it through the off side but the incoming ball takes the inner half of the bat towards mid on.

Outside off, left alone.

Lovely ball. Tongue goes for the big booming inswinging yorker and nearly executes it perfectly. Ravindra stumbles across to get it away and misses, getting hit on the pads. Tongue starts to go up in an appeal but then bails out. Going down leg.

A good followup ball. Banged in short, around middle and off, RR ducks under it.

On a good length, around off, Rachin Ravindra pushes it towards point. A fiery maiden over from Tongue.

On a good length, outside off, moving away, Rachin Ravindra lets it be.

Slightly fuller, around off, Ravindra drives it towards cover.

On a length, outside off, angling away, Rachin looks to force this through the off side but is a touch away from the ball. Gets a bottom edge on the off side.

Similar line and length to the previous one, left alone this time.

NEARLY PLAYED ON! Interesting. Wonder whether Ravindra was beaten by pace or did that come slowly off the wicket. Ummm.... the replay shows the former. On a length, outside off, Rachin looks to play an expansive drive through the off side, possibly the covers but does not move his feet.  Additionally, he is late on the shot and gets a thick inside edge. Luckily for him, it shoots past the stumps towards fine leg. A single taken.

On middle and off, this is watchfully defended. An eventful opening over after Lunch.

Jofra bowls on a length, outside off, Nicholls leaves it alone.

Good-length delivery, outside off, nipping in further, Henry Nicholls lunges and shoulders arms.

Back of a length, over the stumps, Henry Nicholls hops and looks to clip it, but fails to connect. The ball hits the hips of the batter and bounces away to short leg.

Short and outside off, Henry Nicholls cuts it uppishly. It lands just short of backward point.

FOUR! Another streaky boundary. Full and around off, Nicholls comes forward to defend but the ball pitches and then moves away. Nicholls gets squared up and the ball goes off the outside edge. Luckily for him, it escapes gully to his right, to the deep third fence.

Full and well wide outside off, plenty of movement, but well wide to be played at. Nicholls lets it be. And that will be LUNCH ON DAY 1, NEW ZEALAND 75/2!

On a length, outside off, Henry Nicholls leaves it alone.

Just outside off, on a good length, Henry Nicholls pokes it to backward point for one.

Back of a length, outside off, Rachin Ravindra lets it pass.

Full and around off, Rachin Ravindra defends.

Good fielding effort. Full and outside off, Rachin Ravindra leans and drives it through the covers. The ball races across the turf but point and gully track it down. Jordan Cox it is eventually, from one of the two positions, who gets to the ball, putting in a slide. He pushes the ball back but while doing so, his left leg touches the boundary skirtings. The boundary effort is referred upstairs and the third umpire is called into question. He checks multiple angles and eventually finds that when Cox touched the ropes, the ball was nowhere near him. One run saved, three taken.

A short ball, pulled behind square leg for a run.

Good-length delivery, on middle, Rachin Ravindra defends it down.

FOUR! SHOT! Full-length delivery, around the pads, Rachin Ravindra clips it away through the vacant mid-wicket region for four runs.

Short of a length, on off, Rachin Ravindra ducks under it.

Full and straight, defended back down the pitch.

Some extra bounce now, outside off, pushed towards point.

Full and outside off, pushed towards mid off.

Oh, it comes off the thigh pad! Back of a length, shaping in, around middle. Henry Nicholls rocks back to flick it but gets beaten on the inside edge. The ball hits the back thigh pad and flies straight to the first slip fielder.

Swing and a miss! Back of a length, much away from off. Henry Nicholls frees his arms to cut it over the point region, but it beats the batter on the outside edge.

On a nagging length, around off, Henry Nicholls defends back to the bowler.

On the fuller side now, just outside off, Henry Nicholls strides out and brings out his solid defence.

Action replay. Fuller in length, just outside off, angling in a shade. Henry Nicholls prods and blocks it down.

On a length, outside off, Henry Nicholls pushes it to silly mid on.

Archer bashes the length hard, just outside off, Henry Nicholls stands tall and guides it to cover-point.

FOUR LEG BYES! Back of a length, on off, around the hips of the batter. Henry Nicholls lifts his front leg up and looks to pull it with style, but misses. Now, the ball goes off something, rolling past the second slip fielder to the deep third fence. Initially, it is given as runs, but then, Archer protests. Accordingly, don't know how and when, the umpire changes his decision and gives it as leg byes! Bowlers just don't like giving runs, do they?

Back of a length, on off, Henry Nicholls pushes it to cover.

Full and down the leg side, Nicholls looks to flick but misses again. The ball goes off the hips towards fine leg and a leg bye is taken.

OUT! CAUGHT! There is no water out there but how on earth did that salmon leap to catch its prey? My word, that is nothing short of a stunner from Jacob Bethell. For the last 5-10 minutes, there has been an excessive display of the phrase - London looking, Tokyo turning. And finally, one goes to hand. Or rather, is just plucked out of thin air. On a slightly shorter length, around off and middle, Tom Latham looks to help it through the leg side. But he is beaten by pace and ends up playing it way too late. He gets turned up, with his body pointing towards fine leg but the ball coming way quicker. Takes the outside edge, nearly the back part of the bat and flies through the slip cordon. But Bethell at gully dives full stretch to his right and takes a stunner! Latham is in disbelief but he has to walk back for a hard-fought 27 (75). The 44-run stand has been broken and NEW ZEALAND ARE 58/2!

FOUR! Too straight. Overpitched, on middle, Rachin Ravindra whips it through square leg to open his account in style. A fiery over though.

Full and wide outside off, Tom Latham shoulders arms.

Full, on off, Tom Latham closes the face of the bat and flicks it to short mid-wicket.

Shaping in, pitching it just outside off, fuller as well. Tom Latham lunges and pushes it toward the left of the cover fielder, who does well to field it. Latham wants a single, but Henry Nicholls rightfully rejects the call.

On a length, on off, Tom Latham pushes it to mid off.

Right into the blockhole, around off, Latham opens the face of his willow and digs it to gully.

Pitches it up, does Baker, angling down the leg side. Tom Latham fails to connect his flick.

On a good length, from around the wicket, but too straight. Henry Nicholls clips it through square leg for a couple.

FOUR! ADMONISHED! Probably his first proper confident shot in this innings. Short and wide outside off, Nicholls, with a crouching stance, gets up and over the ball, slashing it over point, for his second boundary. Brings up the 50 FOR NEW ZEALAND as well.

Full and outside off, just about some hint of movement, Henry lets it be.

Miles down the leg side, HN cannot get it away.

Full and outside off, Henry Nicholls watches it closely before taking his bat away.

A touch wider outside off, let through again.

Pitches it on a hard length, does Baker, on off, Tom Latham rocks back and fends it to the off side.

Full-length delivery, but way wide outside off, Tom Latham strides out to cover the stumps and shoulders arms at it.

Just outside off, not much movement on the delivery, back of a length. Tom Latham lets it travel to the keeper.

Shaping in, at the stumps, fuller in length, Tom Latham leans forward and nudges it with soft hands to the leg side.

A surprise bouncer from Baker, angling just down the leg side. Tom Latham detects the short delivery and instantly ducks underneath.

Pushed fuller, on off, Tom Latham taps it to cover.

Full and straight, from around the wicket, Tom Latham flicks it towards mid on.

On middle and leg, Latham gets across and pushes it towards mid on, who has now been moved a lot straighter.

That's a lovely delivery. A near pinpoint yorker, around middle and leg, but Tom manages to dig it out towards square leg.

Good running. Back of a length, around off, from around the wicket, TL pushes it through the covers and calls his partner through for a quick single.

Oh dear... cover drive towards mid on? He is just not able to get any sort of rhythm here, is Nicholls. Overpitched, outside off, Henry Nicholls strides across to drive it through the covers but is nowhere near the pitch of the ball. He plays way too early and luckily for him, the incoming ball manages to hit the willow rather than the timber. Rolls towards mid on.

FOUR! Not convincing but Nicholls will take it. Short and wide outside off, Nicholls reaches out and then leaps to cut. Gets it off the toe end but manages to get the ball over point for a boundary. The stand moves to 33.

That's good cricket from Tom Latham! Good-length delivery, outside off, Latham opens the face of the bat and taps it into the gap between backward point and point for a couple of runs.

Pitches it up, does Baker, on middle, Latham lunges to defend, but gets a thick inside edge. The ball rolls through square leg and the batter collects another brace.

On a length, wide outside off, Latham offers no shot at it.

Now that's sharp fielding from Emilio Gay! Fuller in length, just outside off. Latham gets on his front foot toward the pitch of the delivery and pushes it well from the middle of his bat toward cover. Emilio dives to his right and extends his right arm to make an excellent stop.

Back of a length, around the thigh pad of the batter. Tom Latham clips it wide of the deep fine leg fielder and gets a couple of runs.

Full and at the stumps, Tom Latham nudges it to square leg and gets a single. A positive over for the Kiwis, 7 runs coming off the over.

Full and straight, 141 kph, from around the wicket, Henry Nicholls leans and tucks it towards fine leg for a single.

Much better. Just around the off stump, on a length, Tom Latham is forced to play the 140 kph delivery, which he does, with a solid defense.

Full and wide outside off, 138 kph, might be a tempter, asking Latham to go after it. But it is like asking a saint to curse you. Tom calmly leaves it alone.

Oh dear... advert for the football World Cup? A very risky call from Nicholls and he alone would have been responsible for his demise. On a good length, around off, the skipper looked to defend but got a thick inside edge onto his pads. The ball rolled away beside the pitch, on the off side and Latham looked at his partner, who agreed for the single. But the bowler was much quicker than Nicholls, got to the ball way early and attempted a flick. Connected alright but the shot missed the goal. The ball went past the stumps and Nicholls got in. Might have been short had that hit.

That is a sharp bouncer. On middle and leg, Nicholls sways away from the line and the keeper has to leap to collect.

On a good length, worked through square leg for a couple.

There we go again. Full and just too straight, with the angle from around the wicket taking the ball further down the leg side. Tom Latham flicks it towards fine leg for a couple.

Back of a length, outside off, decent bounce, Latham hops and pushes this through the covers for a single.

Full and way wide outside off, easy leave for Henry Nicholls.

Back of a length outside off, Nicholls pushes this through the covers for a single.

Full and outside off, excellent pace, 141 kph, seaming away, Tom shoulders arms and it zips through to the keeper.

Oh wow. Care for a banana an hour before lunch? Full and outside off, TL shoulders arms again but the ball pitches and then swings away a mile like a banana. The keeper collects it almost near first slip.

On a good length, around leg and middle, Tom Latham defends.

FOUR! Too full and too straight. Latham accepts the gift and flicks it through square leg. The ball races away.

Left alone, appeal for LBW, nothing from the umpire. On a good length, outside off, from around the wicket, Tom shoulders arms. The ball nips back in a long way and hits him, but way too high on the thighs. Maybe, that's what saved him as the umpire shakes his head on the LBW appeal. Ball Tracking shows it to be going over the top.

Another LBW appeal! Not out again. This one is much fuller, but down the leg side. TL misses his flick and is hit on the pads. Comfortably going down the leg side.

Outside off, left alone.

Full and straight, pushed through mid on for a single.

On a good length, around off, Tom Latham defends it down the track.

Down the leg side, helped behind square leg for a run.

Now, that's a real snorter. If people had watched this bloke bowl to David Warner in a match of last year's Hundred, they would have remembered that contest. From around the wicket, Baker angles a sharp and quick ball into the left hander, on a good length outside off. The batter is forced to play at that but then, at the last moment, the ball moves away and bounces, to beat the outside edge. If Warner were a writer, he could publish a whole book on his struggles against Broad and Baker.

Outside off, on a good length again, another play and a miss. Not menacing as such.

A crowd catch. Back of a length, outside off, nipping back in sharply, Nicholls looks to flick but misses. The ball goes off something and lobs back to the bowler. Baker catches it and appeals with utmost conviction but umpire Nitin Menon is not fooled. Neither is Root as he does not even consider a review. That went off the thigh pads.

England waste a review. That is the verdict of the guy who watches the replay. But not the one who watched it live. Down the leg side, Henry Nicholls looked to flick but missed. Now, as the ball went past the bat, there was a sound and a woody one at that. The keeper collected and the whole Oval erupted. But Nitin Menon shook his head. Not surprisingly, Joe Root went for the review but to his misfortune, UltraEdge detected a spike when the ball was closer to the pad. Tough luck, but a promising opener from Baker.

On a good length, around middle and leg, Henry Nicholls works it through mid-wicket for a single.

Similar ball, same result, just that the batter is different. Another run.

Full and pretty close to the off stump, but Nicholls knows where his off stump is and shoulders arms. The ball nibbles away a touch before reaching the keeper.

On middle and off, full again, watchfully dug out.

Full and straight, Henry gets a good stride forward to block the ball towards cover.

Full and down the leg side, HN misses his tickle.

On a good length, around middle and off, Tom Latham pushes it towards mid on.

Wide outside off, angling in, on a good length. Tom Latham covers the stumps and lifts his willow to let it travel to the keeper.

Much fuller, outside off, Latham gets across and shoulders arms.

Fuller again, angling in on the off pole. Tom Latham leans on the delivery and defends it to cover.

On middle and off, watchfully defended.

Another maiden over from Matthew Fisher! Full-length delivery, on middle and leg, Tom Latham misses his flick on the inside edge and gets pinged on the front pad, before the ball rolls to backward square leg. 

Back of a length, outside off, nipping back in sharply, Henry Nicholls gets caught in his crease as he looks to flick. Misses and the ball goes off his pads towards point.

Beaten! Back of a length, pitching it just outside off and nipping it away. Henry Nicholls stays on his back foot and defends the inside line, as the ball zips past the outside edge by a few inches.

On middle and leg, Nicholls hops and works it through mid-wicket for a couple of runs to get off the mark.

Back of a length, wide outside off, Henry Nicholls withdraws his bat and lets it pass.

On a length, outside off, let through.

A loud appeal from the bowler, but the umpire remains unmoved. Pitches it fuller, does Tougue, around the leg stump, Henry Nicholls misses his flick and wears it on the pad. The trajectory of the ball is surely going down the leg side.

On a length, outside off, coming in, left alone.

Shaping in, down the leg side, pitching it on a hard length. Tom Latham looks to offer a flick at it, but withdraws his bat and ends up leaving it.

On a good length, outside off, pushed towards point.

Back of a length, around the hips of the batter, slanting in. Tom Latham tries to flick it but fails to get any connection.

Full and well outside off, let through.

Oh, a wild inswinger from Fisher, but still away from the off stump. On a nagging length, pitching it well outside off, but swinging in sharply. Tom Latham uses his back leg to cover the stumps and shoulders arms at it.

That is a brute. On a good length, outside off, Tom Latham pushes at it, but the ball pitches, bounces and even seams away. Does everything but take the outside edge.

On a good length, outside off, Latham covers the stumps and makes a leave. 

Full and straight, ideally one should be playing forward. But Archer's pace keeps pushing batters back which means that Latham pushes this from his crease through mid on. Gets enough timing on it to beat the fielder from mid on to his right but not enough to get the boundary. Three runs taken.

Archer just misses his line! Pushes it fuller, but sprays it down the leg side. Henry Nicholls swings his willow to flick it aggressively, but fails to get the connection.

On a good length, outside off, extra bounce, Tom shoulders arms.

And again! Jofra Archer tries to offer a wide yorker, but spills out a low full toss. Henry Nicholls attempts to drive it away, but it beats the outside edge of the bat.

On a length, around middle and off, angling away from over the wicket, 128 kph, Devon Conway pushes at it away from his body and guides it behind point for a single.

On a hard length, angling in, around off, Tom Latham looks to have a poke at it, but gets beaten on the outside edge.

From around the wicket again, on a length, around middle, Latham blocks it out watchfully.

Full, at the stumps, Tom Latham clips it to deep fine leg and gets a single.

Full and straight, Conway gets into a bit of a tangle, but manages to push the ball towards mid on. That is a very good application for being adjudged LBW, in case he misses the ball.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Forget LBW, Conway has gifted his wicket away here. That's not the best of the deliveries from Matthew Fisher, but he gets away with it. England get their first breakthrough. This is a back-of-a-length delivery, sprayed down the leg side. Devon Conway transfers his weight on the back foot and tries to take on the loose delivery. He swivels and looks to pull it away, but plays the shot pretty late. The ball just manages to get some part of the glove before it gets into the gloves of debutant James Rew behind the stumps. New Zealand appeal and the umpire does not have to agree. Because Conway walks off! He departs for a scratchy 9 (15) and New Zealand are 14/1 after 6 overs! Bonus wicket for England.

A hint of an outswinger now! Back of a length, pitched wide outside off, threatening the batter that the ball might angle in, but it swings away, which straightens the delivery. Latham watches the ball carefully and lets it travel to the keeper.

Pitches it up, does Archer, outside off, Tom Latham shoulders arms at it.

On a length, outside off, nipping away. Tom Latham once again makes a leave at it.

On a length, outside off, Tom Latham yet again decides to offer no shot at it.

Fuller in length and angling in, Tom Latham prods halfway and tries to defend it to the off side, but gets a slight inside edge before it hits the front pad. Latham sets off to take a single, but Conway rejects the call.

Hard-length delivery, outside off, Tom Latham leaves it away. Anything outside off or not threatening the stumps, the Kiwi batters are opting to leave.

Good-length delivery, on off, slanting in, Tom Latham dabs it to point. 

On the back of a good length, around middle. Tom Latham rolls his wrists and flicks it to the left of the short mid-wicket fielder for a single.

Fuller in length, just outside off, Devon Conway leans on the delivery and eases it to the right of the bowler.

Fisher bends his back and bashes it hard on the length, around the hips of the batter. Devon Conway hops and tucks it straight to the backward square leg fielder.

Off the inside edge! Much fuller now from Fisher, on off. Devon Conway lunges to drive it to cover, but gets nicked on the inside edge, before the ball rolls into the vast gap between backward square leg and short mid-wicket. Brace taken.

Good-length delivery, outside off, shaping in, Devon Conway prods and opens the face of the bat to push it to point.

A bit of extra bounce off the deck! Jofra Archer bangs this one on the length, just outside off. Devon Conway hangs back and tries to fend it down, but the ball gets some assistance from the track as it gets some extra bounce. The ball hits the gloves of the batter and bounces off between third slip and gully for a couple of runs.

An appeal for caught behind, but there's an ample amount of visible gap between the bat and ball. Hard-length delivery, into the corridor of uncertainty. Conway looks to block it from his back foot but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Back of a length, outside off, Devon Conway lets it travel to the keeper.

Angling in, around the pads of the batter. Devon Conway looks to nudge it to mid-wicket but misses and gets pinged on the front pad. It is clearly going down the leg side.

FOUR! Flies off the edge! Full and wide outside off, Devon Conway reaches out and looks to steer it behind point, by the looks of it. However, he is beaten by pace and the ball flies off the outside edge. Luckily for him, it goes to the left of the diving fielder at gully and races to the deep third ropes, for the first boundary of the Test.

Back of a length, outside off, Devon Conway isn't interested in offering any shot at it.

Good-length delivery, angling in, around off, Tom Latham hangs back and dabs it down the track.

Wow, that's a risky leave by Latham! Fisher pitches it well outside off, but swinging in sharply. Tom Latham covers the stumps and shoulders arms at it. However, the ball just glides past the off stump. 

Another inswinger from Fisher, pitching it outside off. Tom Latham once again holds his stance and lets it travel to the keeper.

On a nagging length, outside off, Tom Latham gets behind the line and blocks it to cover.

Pushes his length fuller, does Fisher, on the off pole. Tom Latham, with no such footwork, defends it back to the bowler.

On the back of a good length, wide outside off. Tom Latham covers the off stump and leaves it away. A probing maiden over.

Right on the money! Jofra Archer starts off from around the wicket and bowls fuller, angling in, at the stumps. Tom Latham tucks it through square leg and takes a couple of runs to get off the mark. 

Bouncer just on the second delivery, shaping away from the batter as well, just outside off. Tom Latham arches back and makes a leave.

Pushes his length fuller again, pitching it outside off and nipping it away. Tom Latham watches the ball and shoulders arms.

Hard-length delivery, slanting in, on middle, Tom Latham hops a bit and clips it to the left of the short mid-wicket fielder and gets a single.

Fuller in length,on off, shaping in. Devon Conway prods halfway and defends it from the outer part of his bat to cover.

Swing and a miss! Archer drags his length back, offering a lot of width, swinging away as well. Devon Conway crouches a bit and tries to slap it away through cover-point, but it zips past the top edge. Three runs coming off from the first over of this riveting contest.