Eng vs NZ

10th over: England 69-1 (Duckett 49, Pope 12) Jeez, Duckett is batting outrageously well. He times Tickner for four boundaries in five balls – mid-on, ...

Hello and welcome to live coverage of the first Test between New Zealand and England in Mount Maunganui. 7th over: England 41-1 (Duckett 24, Pope 10) Duckett continues his extremely impressive start, dismissing a Southee inswinger to the midwicket boundary. Duckett slugs a pull for four later in the over, his fifth boundary in only 24 balls on the first morning of a series. His career average is 28, which isn’t great but is comparable to all the other openers, and his Baz average is 27. It’s a horrible time to be young and queer in the UK at present, with the full force of the British establishment painting you as public enemy number one. A pull round the corner for a single brings up the fifty at exactly a run a ball. We may not be Bazworthy to quote Chris Lintott, but what a pleasure it is to watch Test cricket in the sunshine, especially after the week NZ (and other parts) has experienced.” To be honest, I’d forgotten this was the first Test cricket of the year. That brings up England’s hundred at more than a run a ball, and Duckett pulls the next ball to the fence to move to 76 from 58 balls. “Looking forward to (hoping for) the boos from the home crowd when Kuggeleijn gets tossed the ball,” wrote Paul Cockburn a few minutes before Kuggeleijn came into the attack. 16th over: England 106-1 (Duckett 76, Pope 20) Kuggeleijn drops a fraction short – if that – and Duckett slugs a pull through midwicket for four. 17th over: England 108-1 (Duckett 77, Pope 21) Mount Maunganui has a reputation for being flat and this is no exception.