If you were listening to the TMS lunch discussion then you'll know 2026 is the National Year of Reading, the biggest campaign in a generation designed to help more people to discover or rediscover the joy of reading.

The theme is to “go all in” on passions and interests and when it comes to a tradition of writing about a sport cricket has a rich and varied history.

From the iconic Beyond a Boundary by CLR James to Harry Thompson’s Penguins Stopped Play. From Duncan Hamilton’s biography of Harold Larwood to the groundbreaking autobiography of Marcus Trescothick Coming Back to Me.

We had a bit of a chat on Friday in this live on cricket in fiction, let's talk about your preferred cricketing non-fiction today. Any recommendations?

Tom Blundell calmly guides a brisk-ish delivery from Jofra Archer through wide third for four to start Jofra Archer's latest over.

There's a single before Archer responds with four dots.

A hum from the Trent Bridge crowd, doubtless pondering tactics.

Alex Hartley
Former England bowler on Test Match Special

If England are going to go about the chase in the way Harry Brook warmed up this morning, it's going to be a hell of a watch. For good or bad.

Ben Stokes backs up that over from Jofra Archer with another tight one. Just a single off it. England are chipping away at New Zealand here. Who will blink first?

Jofra Archer continues to build a bit of pressure for England with a tight over.

He finishes with a couple of beauties - twice beating tentative defensive prods from Daryl Mitchell on the outside edge.

England have done well with the ball after lunch thus far.

Ashwanth R Kavuluri
CricViz analyst

After a 129-run stand with Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell is now joined by Tom Blundell. As a pair, they have scored 1,134 runs together in Test cricket, with four century partnerships and two fifty-run stands.

They are New Zealand's second-most successful batting pair in Tests since 2021. This will be a crucial partnership for both sides in the context of the match.

Most runs as a pair for New Zealand in Tests since 2021:

• 2,562 runs - Conway & Latham
• 1,134 runs - Mitchell & Blundell
• 1,118 runs - Latham & Williamson

Jonathan Agnew
BBC Chief Cricket Commentator on Test Match Special

Ben Stokes has a rueful smile on his face as if to say "how didn't that bowl you?"

Image source, Getty Images

This will be troubling England's batters considering what is to come.

A full delivery from Ben Stokes midway through the over pea rolls through to Tom Bundell, who jabs his bat down but misses it.

The ball beat wicketkeeper Jamie Smith, too, and runs away for four byes.

The crowd give Jofra Archer some encouragement as he runs in. Not exactly a full-on roar but a la few 'woahhhs' some 'come ons' and a bit of intensified clapping.

New Zealand were cautious in the first session and Tom Blundell defends the first two deliveries.

The third is edged wide of the cordon and races away to the vacant third region. Harry Brook produces a diving pull back to prevent the boundary.

The players are back out in the middle at Trent Bridge.

Jofra Archer will bowl the first over following lunch.

Tom Blundell is on strike.

Back to the present day.

Shoaib Bashir has picked up England's only wicket in the morning session after he denied Rachin Ravindra a hundred.

Speaking of Harold Larwood.

I know cricket books were discussed on TMS earlier - we did likewise here yesterday - but any mention of Larwood is an excuse to draw your attention to Duncan Hamilton's book on the great man which is absolutely excellent.

One anecdote I remember from it was a tale about the boundary at Nuncargate, a village near Kirkby-in-Ashfield where a young Larwood played, which had a hedge on the edge of it that had a hole specially cut into it.

The reason for the hole? So the young quick bowler could fit his full run up in.

Image source, Getty Images

Brought you details of the highest fourth-innings chases at Trent Bridge in Tests earlier (11:29) - 299 and 284.

Thought I'd take up a look at the highest successful first-class chase at Trent Bridge to give us some sort of context of the challenge England might face here.

It came 101 years ago last week when Middlesex chased down fourth-innings target of 502 against Nottinghamshire thanks to an unbeaten double hundred by Patsy Hendren.

The great English fast bowler, Harold Larwood, bowled 36 wicketless overs for Notts in the match.

Ben Jones
CricViz analyst

New Zealand attacked 13% of the deliveries in that morning session - that's the lowest figure for either team, in any session of the series.

Thanks, Mike.

Some news Stormont where India are playing Ireland is that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will NOT make his debut in the second T20 international.

India have won the toss and will bowl. Ireland, of course, won the first match between the sides on Friday.

You can keep an eye on that match regardless with our friends from BBC North Ireland...

Having scored one run in the previous over, Daryl Mitchell goes back into his shell and faces a maiden from Gus Atkinson.

New Zealand have scored 60 runs from 25 overs this morning, with Mitchell out there for all of it - he has 47 from 149 deliveries, with Tom Blundell yet to score alongside him.

The tourists are edging towards a defendable lead - here's Timothy Abraham to see how they get on in the afternoon session.

Tom Blundell comes out after a long wait and faces the last two balls of Shoaib Bashir's over without scoring.

A profitable over for Bashir, who changed ends from the one he was bowling from yesterday - he now has figures of 1-30 from 10 overs.

We'll have one more over before lunch.