New Zealand v England: first men’s cricket Test, day two – live | New Zealand v England 2024

53rd over: England 222-5 (Brook 76, Stokes 0) New Zealand and England never let us down, do they? Every series they play is topsy-turvy, even the ones that end 3-0. We’ve already had multiple momentum shifts in this game and Pope’s wicket could be the catalyst for another.

WICKET! England 222-5 (Pope c Phillips b Southee 77)

52nd over: England 222-4 (Brook 76, Pope 77) Brook takes a single off Smith to bring up a riotous 150 partnership in barely 30 overs. As well as substantially reducing the deficit, it has given England’s lower middle order a great chance to punish a tiring New Zealand attack tonight.

Brook dropped for the third time!

50th over: England 213-4 (Brook 70, Pope 74) The speed at which England score means games can change at dizzying speed, especially when they are relatively low-scoring. It’s less then 30 overs since the dismissal of Ben Duckett put New Zealand in complete control; now they are arguably second favourites. They could do with a timeout, even a drinks break, to compose themselves and discuss bowling plans.

That’s not an option just yet so Nathan Smith returns to the attack. Brook charges a short ball, is hit in the gut and gets four leg-byes for King and country when the ball deflects past the diving Blundell. It was a no-ball as well.

49th over: England 206-4 (Brook 69, Pope 74) Latham stations himself at short mid-on and is almost in business when Pope jabs at Phillips with those familiar hard hands. The ball reaches Latham on the bounce.

Pope continues to attack, thumping Phillips inside out through the covers for three. Brook works a single to bring up 2000 Test runs at the startling average of 58.82. This is his 36th innings, which puts him joint-eighth on the all-time list with Viv Richards and Arthur Morris among others.

48th over: England 200-4 (Brook 67, Pope 70) Pope drives O’Rourke sweetly through mid-off for three; Brook pulls him brusquely through midwicket with the same result.

New Zealand are under serious pressure for the first time in the field. England are only 148 runs behind, the ball is getting old and, crucially, are no longer riding their luck with the bat.

47th over: England 191-4 (Brook 63, Pope 66) Pope works Phillips for two to reach 3000 runs in Tests. His overall average is modest (34.49) but it’s worth reiterating that he averages 38.62 since Ben Stokes took over as captain – and almost all of those runs have been made batting out of position. Goodness knows who bats No3 for England next summer. Shoaib Bashir?

46th over: England 186-4 (Brook 62, Pope 62) O’Rourke reminds Pope what time it is with a couple of beautiful bouncers. Both zip past Pope’s attempted uppercut, with the second one also putting him on his backside. The wicketkeeper Blundell did really well to save four byes.

45th over: England 186-4 (Brook 62, Pope 62) Phillips overpitches to Brook and is scrunched through extra cover for four. Beautifully timed. Batting looks more comfortable* than at any stage in the England innings, which presumably means Brook is about to slog one up in the air.

* Less uncomfortable is probably a better way of phrasing it.

44th over: England 180-4 (Brook 56, Pope 61) O’Rourke has a strangled LBW shout against Pope, who was saved by a big inside-edge.

43rd over: England 179-4 (Brook 56, Pope 61) Glenn Phillips continues after tea. He’s a canny, brisk offspinner who took some absolutely crucial wickets in India and has a Test bowling average of 27. That average almost drops further when Brook plays and misses outside off.

42nd over: England 177-4 (Brook 55, Pope 61) O’Rourke starts after tea to Pope, who rolls his wrists to collect a couple through midwicket. Brook then flashes lustily outside off stump and is beaten.

Pope has had such an up and down year.These are his scores in Tests in 2024: 1, 196, 23, 23, 39, 3, 0, 0, 11, 19, 57, 121, 51, 10, 6, 6, 1, 17, 154, 7, 0, 29, 22, 3, 1, 61*.

This will be an extended evening session, with 38 overs still to bowl. If England are still batting at the close they’ll be close to parity, possibly even in the lead.

Musical interlude

41st over: England 174-4 (Brook 54, Pope 59) Glenn Phillips, an occasional offspinner who shouldn’t really be called an occasional offspinner because have you seen his recent record, is given the final over before tea. It’s an uneventful affair, with Pope and Brook collecting three singles to complete a breathless session.

England scored 129 in 26.3 overs for the loss of Ben Duckett. Brook and Pope needed plenty of luck – Brook was dropped twice – but they deserved plenty of it for having the courage and skill to counter-attack in bowler-friendly conditions. Most England teams of my lifetime would be 120 for 6 at tea, not 174 for 4.

Pope was particularly good and looks more natural at No5 or 6. Over the course of this series he could become one of the few batters in Test history to earn a demotion through weight of runs.

40th over: England 171-4 (Brook 53, Pope 57) Pope turns O’Rourke for a single to bring up a vital, potentially game-changing half-century from 59 balls. It’s been streaky at times, sure, but it has also showcased some of Pope’s best qualities.

It’s been a busy, selfless and relentlessly positive innings – and it continues with a deliberate uppercut for four later in the over. There were two men out behind square but he bisected them perfectly. A thump through extra cover for three brings up the hundred partnership from 112 balls. For an England fan, it’s been the cricket-watching equivalent of a ride on the Big Dipper.

39th over: England 162-4 (Brook 52, Pope 49) Pope plays across the line at Henry and is hit on the flap of the pad. New Zealand plead unsuccessfully for LBW, then barely discuss a review when Rod Tucker turns them down. Too high? Yes, but not by much – it would have been umpire’s call.

Another turbulent over ends with Brook flashing an edge just short of gully.

38th over: England 158-4 (Brook 51, Pope 48) Will O’Rourke replaces Smith and will have time for a couple of overs before tea. He has a bob each way, with two slips and two men out for the hook. Everything knows the short ball is coming – and when it does Brook whirls a pull to long leg for six to bring up his half-century. It’s been a vital innings: 65 balls, five fours, two sixes. Oh and two dropped catches, which may come back to bite New Zealand somewhere intimate and painful.

37th over: England 151-4 (Brook 45, Pope 47) Pope overtakes Brook, who had an 18-runs start, by edging/steering Henry through the slips at catchable height for four.

36th over: England 146-4 (Brook 45, Pope 42) Pope jumps all over a short ball from Smith, pulling for four with a brusque authority. He gets another boundary later in the over, flicking wristily over the head of midwicket. There were a few shouts of ‘catch!’ but it cleared the fielder fairly comfortably. A quick single takes him to 42 from 47 balls; it’s a typical Ollie Pope joyride, he’s just doing it from a different position.

England have belted 50 runs from the last nine overs. Brook was dropped in that time, and this certainly hasn’t been a counter-attack for the ages, but they’ve played with game-changing intent. It takes courage to do that in this situation, especially if you’re also under pressure for your place like Pope.

35th over: England 135-4 (Brook 43, Pope 33) Henry replaces Southee, whose figures of 11-2-35-0 are a minor scandal. The ‘0’ bit anyway. England continue to live liek they’ll die tomorrow, with Pope picking up five runs of varying streakiness.

Whatever the technical merit, it’s great entertainment. New Zealand won’t be worried yet, but they might be if these two are still in after tea. We’ve got about 25 minutes of the afternoon session to play.

34th over: England 128-4 (Brook 43, Pope 26) Brook has been dropped again! He launched into a drive at Smith and snicked the ball towards Latham at first slip. Latham was beaten for pace and spilled a very sharp two-handed chance above his head. The ball looped up, a discombobulated Latham ran in the wrong direction and Southee at second slip couldn’t reach the rebound. To complete the comedy, Latham’s sunglasses fell off as he looked desperately for the ball.

There’s only one soundtrack for that replay.

33rd over: England 126-4 (Brook 41, Pope 26)

32nd over: England 122-4 (Brook 38, Pope 25) The impressive debutant Nathan Smith returns to the attack. Brook drives uppishly but well short of mid-off, then gets in a bit of a tangle as he keeps out a nipbacker.

Brook has the last word, at least for this over, by steering classily through the slips for four. That brings up a white-knuckle fifty partnership from 64 balls.

31st over: England 116-4 (Brook 33, Pope 24) Pope, not for the first time in this innings, slashes a back cut in the air for four. Not even Glenn Phillips could catch that; he was beaten for pace at backward point and the ball flew to the boundary.

There’s never a dull moment when Pope is at the crease. He has vroomed and veered to 24 from 33 balls.

30th over: England 111-4 (Brook 32, Pope 20) A touch of class from Brook, who times Henry to the left of mid-on. It only brings a couple of runs but it was a lovely shot.

29th over: England 108-4 (Brook 30, Pope 19) Pope, who has started pretty well in a position that suits him far better than No3, drives Southee impatiently through extra cover two more. The positive spin for England is that New Zealand’s seamers should start to tire soon, the ball is getting old and England have Test centurions at Nos 8 and 9. The negative spin is writ large on the scoreboard.

Thanks Taha, morning everyone. This is fun, as sport tends to be when it’s attack v attack. New Zealand are on top but England are trying to hit their way back into contention.

28th over: England 106-4 (Brook 30, Pope 17) Matt Henry returns and Harry Brook, out of nowhere, uses his wrists to whip the ball over fine leg all the way for six. A mad, brilliant shot. Pope drives nicely through mid-off for three and this pair are starting to settle, three figures up for England. And that’ll be me. Time for Rob Smyth to have some fun.

27th over: England 96-4 (Brook 23, Pope 14) Brook gets the forward defence – head still, eyes down – out against Southee before pulling away for one.

26th over: England 95-4 (Brook 22, Pope 14) Pope cuts O’Rourke over gully for four. And then comes another O’Rourke lifter that Pope can’t do anything about; it hits the shoulder of the bat and flies over the cordon, producing another boundary. The bounce from the six-foot-something man, at close to 90mph, is causing serious grief.

25th over: England 87-4 (Brook 22, Pope 6) Southee returns to the attack and Pope cuts away a wide one for four, enjoying a rare gift.

24th over: England 82-4 (Brook 22, Pope 1) Pope looks a touch awkward trying to fend off O’Rourke, but gets off the mark with a dig into the leg side. Brook nearly brings Southee, at leg gully, into play with an aerial flick that runs away for four.

23rd over: England 77-4 (Brook 18, Pope 0) Beautifully strummed by Harry Brook as he drives Nathan Smith through the covers for four. Brook looks so assured … and then he’s dropped at gully! It’s his first loose stroke, a flash outside off that probably surprises Glenn Phillips, who can’t hold on to give Smith a third wicket.

22nd over: England 71-4 (Brook 12, Pope 0) Ollie Pope arrives, in his new position at No 6 as a keeper-bat. O’Rourke beats him with pace and bounce to thud the thigh pad. He’s got a touch of Morne Morkel to him, this guy. He’s going to take loads of Test wickets. A bouncer ends a fine over.

WICKET! Duckett c Conway b O’Rourke 46 (England 71-4)

21st over: England 71-3 (Brook 12, Duckett 46) Duckett has struggled for fluency since the break and nearly chips a return catch to Smith before edging a pull to the fine-leg boundary for four. He’s living on the edge. Smith gets the ball to leap up at Brook and challenge the gloves. It remains a tough ask for the batters out there.

20th over: England 64-3 (Brook 12, Duckett 39) Duckett gets some luck, a wayward attempt at finding the leg side off O’Rourke prompting an edge that flies over the cordon and to the boundary. The left-hander gets even looser, nearly dragging on to his stumps with a cross-bat hack.

19th over: England 59-3 (Brook 12, Duckett 34) Smith is nagging away from around the wicket against Duckett, threatening the stumps but also the outside edge with his wobbling seam. The quick has settled into a decent rhythm here.

18th over: England 58-3 (Brook 12, Duckett 33) Brook handles O’Rourke’s bounce again, punching off the back foot behind point for four. The bowler launches a strong retort later in the over, nearly inviting an outside edge in the channel outside off. For all his attacking strokes, Brook’s forward defence is immaculate, played right under the eyes – he shows it off moments later.

17th over: England 54-4 (Brook 8, Duckett 33) Smith skips in, his no-ball problem solved with a bit of lunch, and concedes a single.

16th over: England 53-3 (Brook 7, Duckett 33) On comes the towering Will O’Rourke, offering quite the contrast to Ben Duckett. Brook guides the ball nicely to the third-man rope for four, riding the bounce perfectly. With the final ball of the over, O’Rourke gets the ball to leap off a length and surprise Brook, the edge taken but the ball not looping into a dangerous area. O’Rourke, playing his eighth Test, is averaging less than 20.

15th over: England 45-3 (Brook 0, Duckett 32) Smith gets his first ball to climb on to the top of Brook’s bat, the edge to the cordon keeping low. Duckett, at the other end, was excellent this morning, playing with restraint and still somehow getting to 32 off 40.

And we’re back: Nathan Smith has three legitimate balls left in his over. Harry Brook is in, and England could do with a special one from him: they trail by 303.

Brendan Large offers this – can anyone answer it? “This might be world’s stupidest question, but … with all the paint strewn around the field, why can’t they mark the stumps on the crease so the batters don’t have to use time every over/ball to ask the umpire where middle is?”

Lunch

WICKET! Root b Smith 0 (England 45-3)

WICKET! Bethell c Blundell b Smith 10 (England 43-2)

14th over: England 43-1 (Bethell 10, Duckett 32) Henry continues and, after watching Bethell leave another one outside off, decides to go around the wicket. An inside-edge takes Bethell to double figures.

13th over: England 41-1 (Bethell 9, Duckett 31) Jacob Bethell isn’t the only debutant in this match; Nathan Smith is going through the same nerves for New Zealand. He bowls a no-ball but looks sharp, bowling around the wicket to Bethell … who picks up his first four with a leg-side shovel, a good-looking stroke. A cut shot moves Bethell to nine – all of a sudden, he’s racing.

12th over: England 31-1 (Bethell 1, Duckett 30) Bethell has to contend with another lbw shout, but he’s safe from any real danger. The leaves continue from the newbie.