Summary

  • Second Test, day one, The Kia Oval

  • England win toss and bowl

  • NZ 291-7 at the close: Blundell 51, Phillips 49*; Bethell 2-8, Baker 2-63

  • Hosts are 1-0 up in three-match series

  • Watch highlights in BBC Two and iPlayer from 19:00 BST

Have your say on England men this summer

Live Reporting

by Mike Peter & Timothy Abraham

  1. How's stat?!

    Simon Mann
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    Joe Root was England's leading run scorer and wicket taker heading into this match.

  2. The bell has been rung and Joe Root is currently leading England's players back on to the field at The Oval for the evening session.

  3. NSB misses next two matches

    Nat Sciver-Brunt and Charlotte EdwardsGetty Images

    Away from this match, and all things Ben Stokes.

    We have an update on another England captain in the form of a bulletin on Nat Sciver-Brunt's fitness.

    The England and Wales Cricket Board have confirmed Sciver-Brunt suffered a left calf muscle strain against Ireland on Tuesday.

    Sciver-Brunt's injury is in a similar location to the recent calf injury which she struggled with in the build up to the Women's T20 World Cup.

    After a scan an assessment by England's medical team the 33-year-old has been ruled out of the next two fixtures against Scotland and West Indies.

    Vice-captain Charlie Dean will lead the side on the field in Sciver-Brunt's absence.

  4. Sir Alastair Cook
    Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    There's always going to be a grey area with cricket and alcohol because it's not like anything else.

  5. Jonathan Agnew
    BBC Chief Cricket Commentator on Test Match Special

    No one wants this to be the end of Ben Stokes

  6. Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    If Ben Stokes can't come back as captain, there's only one man who I think can step up. Joe Root.

  7. 'Stokes in good spirits'

    Ben Stokes in Durham training gearPA Media

    Durham head coach Ryan Campbell has offered his full support to England Test captain Ben Stokes, saying Durham's door "is always open" for him.

    Campbell added that Stokes was in "good spirits and working hard" while training with his county.

    The 35-year-old could now play for Durham in their County Championship match against Northamptonshire on Friday.

    "Our doors are always open for any of our Durham boys," Campbell told BBC Radio Newcastle.

    "If Ben happens to walk through it, I will definitely be waiting there with arms open wide."

  8. Thanks, Mike.

    I've been enjoying all the Professions XI.

    Going to, gulp, consider the Ben Stokes debate for a moment.

  9. Mike Peter
    BBC Sport journalist

    91 runs, two wickets, 24 overs in the session.

    New Zealand will probably feel somewhat happier, the current partnership is worth 59 with Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell on 33 and 23 respectively.

    Here's Timothy Abraham to take you through the next phase of play.

  10. Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    That's why reviews are so important. If you burn through them early, you find yourselves in situations like this.

  11. Daniel Norcross
    Test Match Special commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    I think that's probably a bit too high.

    I wonder if he'd have been tempted if he still had three reviews.

  12. NZ 166-4

    One final over before tea - it's Jofra Archer.

    Joe Root is evidently reading our live text between balls as Emilio Gay grabs a helmet for an, admittedly quite deep, short leg.

    Archer raps the front pad of Daryl Mitchell who is not playing a shot. The England bowler is keen, but I'm not sure there's much in that and Root doesn't review.

    That's the interval - a maiden to finish, only the second of the session.

  13. Stephan Shemilt
    BBC Sport cricket correspondent at The Oval

    Feels odd to be in a situation where Harry Brook is bowling with more close catchers than Jofra Archer.

  14. Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    Harry Brook is definitely getting a bit of swing out there.

  15. NZ 166-4

    Still with Harry Brook and his darts.

    The England vice-captain sends a couple down the leg side, which James Rew, standing up, does well to retrieve.

    And there's some action for one of those two leg slips - with Tom Blundell flicking a shot well short of the catchers and taking a two after the ball spat past them.

  16. NZ 164-4

    Jofra Archer bowls his entire over to Daryl Mitchell, who takes a two to backward square but otherwise doesn't score.

    New Zealand are going along at just under 3.5 runs an over.

  17. Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    Joe Root putting a piece of paper into the inside pocket of his blazer, as he prepares to captain England before the matchGetty Images

    Joe Root has definitely changed since the last time he was captain.

    Maybe after tea he can have a look at the short ball but I still think if you get the ball in the right zone for long enough, there is something being offered.

  18. Get Involved

    Have your say using 'Get Involved' button

    Dermot Reeve in action at the 1992 World CupGetty Images

    Re 15:19 Professions XI and Dermot Reeve. A 'reeve' was often appointed for a shire. Called a 'shire reeve', from which the word 'sheriff' originates.

    John, Penn, High Wycombe

    This is the kind of etymology we are here for, John...

  19. NZ 162-4

    Harry Brook continues for a second over, with two leg slips in - Joe Root is getting funky in his old age.

    Brook mixes it up a bit - one of his deliveries is 73mph.

    Daryl Mitchell takes three through point off the final ball of the over, with Jacob Bethell pulling off a decent stop on the boundary.

  20. Daniel Norcross
    Test Match Special commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    You're not going to get 166 overs in this game, that's for sure.