Cricket

First Test underway - shame I'm only going to be able to watch the morning session with the time difference.

Sibley putting his first ball in Test Cricket away beautifully there for four.

Looks a good wicket

England under the cosh in this first of two tests..98-4 still need 170 to avoid an innings defeat.Tall order.Let NZ get out of sight when they were in. Archer 42 overs..107-1.England bowled over 200 overs and still didn't bowl NZ out..!

Lunch.

Oh well

England flop again ! Certainly miss Cook at the top of the order.

England flop again ! Certainly miss Cook at the top of the order.

Quite grim that from 203/3 in the first innings they've managed to get wiped out by an innings.  It had all started off fairly well.

Jofra Archer upset by 'disturbing racial abuse' in England defeat to New Zealand

England bowler Jofra Archer will receive an apology from New Zealand Cricket after he was subjected to racial abuse by a spectator while batting in the first Test.

Archer, who scored a second-innings 30 as England were well beaten at Mount Maunganui, attributed the alleged abuse to "one guy" in the crowd at Bay Oval, where New Zealand won by an innings and 65 runs.

"A bit disturbing hearing racial insults today whilst battling to help save my team," Archer, 24, said on Twitter.

"The crowd has been amazing this week except for that one guy, the Barmy Army was good as usual also."

The abuse occurred as Archer left the field of play, according to New Zealand Cricket, which said it will be examining CCTV footage to identify the man responsible and refer them to the police.

New Zealand's governing body of cricket said it has "zero tolerance" towards abusive language and promised "increased vigilance" when the teams next meet in Hamilton.

The England and Wales Cricket Board is investigating the incident, and said in a statement: "NZC and ECB ensure that clear guidelines are in place at every venue so that watching a cricket match is safe and enjoyable for everyone.

"Whilst this is a relatively isolated incident there is absolutely no place for anti-social or racist behaviour within the game and it is vitally important that all spectators feel able to come forward to report such behaviour and feel safe in doing so."

Barbados-born Archer was fast-tracked into the England side after representing West Indies at U19 level, and made an impressive Test debut during the Ashes series against Australia.

An England supporter reported that a group of men were singing a racist song about Archer during the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford in September.

Hosts New Zealand now take a 1-0 lead into the second Test of the two-match series.

https://www.skysports.com/cricket/news/12123/11869804/jofra-archer-upset-by-disturbing-racial-abuse-in-england-defeat-to-new-zealand

England happy with 350 sadly. On a pitch like that it should be a drawn match. Something like 500 plays 550 plays 160-4.

Shocking pitch that was so flat, but after building a good platform, England wanted to 'kick on' (check out Stokes' dismissal!) from a position that was never going to be enough once players started getting out cheaply.

England again struggling to bowl NZ out.245-5 with Watling in again. England going with 5 pace bowlers, do very well to bowl them out for under 350 on this pitch.

England again struggling to bowl NZ out.245-5 with Watling in again. England going with 5 pace bowlers, do very well to bowl them out for under 350 on this pitch.

Going to be a long few days

First innings total was about par, but England will be against it unless they get 500 and push for a win. Looking extremely unlikely though.

Stokes has to celebrate that catch. He caught it. His reaction loses England the wicket. Which was a wicket.

Stokes has to celebrate that catch. He caught it. His reaction loses England the wicket. Which was a wicket.

Thought it was ground first. Good pitch and since the last wkt England have bowled poorly.

Archer struggling, looks very ordinary. 187/5...Tea. Had a window on 111/5 but let it slip. Poor spell by Root.

Worried on an up and down pitch about batting last

Nifty one from Curran, good catch by Root.

Curran bowling well, mixing it up. 78-83 mph. Archer getting up to 140/86mph. He needs to produce the odd turbo charged 90mph+ failing that he is a bit to wayward with his line and not really threatening.Out of the attack now. Anderson back on.Maybe Root sees a bit of late swing.

DeKock out caught behind off Curran. Would say unlucky but DeKock chances his arm that many times that he's lucky he got into 90's...still like the player..bad luck mate. Curran bowling well..best today easily.

Archer gets a wicket..still looks a bit deflated. 7 down, 258. Archer needs to show a lot more spirit. Still only 24 but I'm not sure he has the temperament for this cricket lark.

Difficult start against philandrer and rabada but hopefully can exploit the second string bowlers

Nuther batting debacle. Very ordinary.Two or three got decent starts, but as is often the case in this form of the game, they didn't have the will to put a big score together.

On the back foot already. Need to bowl SA out cheeply or it's 1-0...best of 4. Not good

Game over.

Bat too fast, bat too slow what ever we try it hasn't worked.

Block block slog not going to cut it, we need to learn the art of rotating the strike.

Ah.good old england batting  collapse