Have your say on England men this summer

Live Reporting

by Mike Peter

  1. Eng 36-0

    Four more for Ben Stokes!

    He edges Nathan Smith's first ball and it flies past slip and to the ropes.

    What a sport.

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

    The one thing we will really miss about Stokes is that, wherever there is Stokes, there is hope.

  3. Eng 30-0

    Stokes 20, Duckett 10

    A quieter remainder of the over, one single off it.

    Here's the moment where Ben Stokes walked out to open the batting for England.

    'This is remarkable' - Stokes gets guard of honour as he opens batting

  4. How's stat?!

    Ashwanth R Kavuluri
    CricViz analyst

    In Test cricket, among the 724 openers to have batted in at least three innings, Ben Stokes is the only one yet to be dismissed.

    He is the only opener with a 100% not out record.

  5. 6 runs

    Eng 29-0

    Another six for Ben Stokes!

    He slog sweeps Nathan Smith off a length to clear the ropes by a long way at square.

    A remarkable shot.

  6. Eng 23-0

    Zak Foulkes' delivery leaps off a length, prompting a yelp from either Ben Stokes or Tom Blundell.

    The ball clips the fingers of the wicketkeeper and loops away for a single - unclear if there was any bat on that, but the runs go in Stokes' column.

    Ben Duckett then sees a big inside edge jag behind the stumps and run away for four.

  7. Eng 18-0

    A first four for Ben Duckett, whipping Nathan Smith square.

    New Zealand only have two seamers on the field at the moment, as Ben Sears is also off alongside Will O'Rourke.

  9. Ashwanth R Kavuluri
    CricViz analyst

    This is only the third time Ben Stokes has opened the batting in Test cricket. He scored 135 runs, including two fifties, in his previous two innings as an opener.

    Stokes as opener in Test cricket: 78* off 57 balls (in 2020) & 57* off 28 balls (in 2024).

  10. 6 runs

    Eng 13-0

    Down the ground for six!

    Ben Stokes dispatches Zak Foulkes' penultimate delivery to the delight of the crowd.

    Andy Zaltzman tells us that's the early six in an England Test innings, beating Zak Crawley off 12 balls in Wellington in 2024.

    He drops into a padel sweep for the follow-up and runs a single.

  11. Jeremy Coney
    Former New Zealand captain on BBC Test Match Special

    I guess it just means that if he requires a stitch or not. I am not sure if he will take that up or if he is allowed to tape it up.

  12. Will O'Rourke is walking off, Zak Foulkes is going to bowl his remaining five balls.

    Foulkes himself is a concussion sub for Blair Tickner, Daryl Mitchell was peppered throughout his century and Ben Sears had to retire from batting for a spell after being hit on the hand.

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

    It looks like Ben Stokes is in his own bubble. He means his own kind of business.

  14. Eng 4-0

    New Zealand really have been in the wars in this match.

    Ben Stokes slams Will O'Rourke's opening ball to the right of the seamer - he throws out a hand, the ball clips the fingertips and flies over mid-off for two.

    O'Rourke's fingers are bleeding pretty heavily, the physio is coming on.

  15. Get Involved

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    Would have to think Ben Stokes has thought, he may not get a chance to bat if weather comes in or the top order do the job.

    Michael, Wilmslow

    What if Ben Stokes scores 200 odd and we realise he was an opener all along?

    Oliver, Alrewas

    Ben Stokes opening says it all. This is all about him and not about the match. No class.

    David, Motherwell

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

    Well, that one shot shows us exactly why Ben Stokes has gone out there.

    He is going to go absolutely berserk!

  17. Eng 2-0

    Well, he's not going to hang around.

    Ben Stokes absolutely sears his first ball along the ground to mid-off, then is unable to connect with a lap sweep.

    He gets off the mark from the next, sending the ball down to third for a single to retain the strike.

  18. Get Involved

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    Psychological masterstroke by Ben Stokes. With the series on the line, he knows the guys will go out and play their hearts out for him. Once they've chased down 400 to win, he'll then announce that actually he was only joking about retiring.

    Gary, Cambridgeshire

    Odds on Ben Stokes facing the first ball and getting a golden duck?

    Mark, Aylesbury

    Whats does the future hold. No Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad, Mark Wood and James Anderson. Where are the characters coming from? Scary thought.

    Alan, Dunstable

  19. Eng 1-0

    A touch fortunate - Ben Duckett pops a shot aerially into the leg side.

    It clears the two fielders in the ring and lands safely.

    Ben Stokes turns down a second run and will now face...

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

    Stokes hasn't been in the best of form with the bat but he must have clarity of thought here.

    We know that he will give it everything he has got and leave nothing out there.