England hit by Rew drops and Nicholls century

Stand-in captain Joe Root's tactics were baffling on a second morning that began England's spiral. He is marshalling an inexperienced team and the lack of senior players has shown. At one point, Root looked frustrated when Emilio Gay was not in the right fielding position.

England have been badly hurt by drops - one by Ben Duckett on Thursday, then the two by Rew on Friday - and their batting. Stokes would probably have been powerless to improve either.

If he does return as skipper in Nottingham, it will likely be in a crucial deciding Test for an England team desperate for a series win.

Rew exposed

Figure caption,

'England are delighted' - Bethell traps Ravindra lbw for 76

Rew made his Test debut because first-choice keeper Jamie Smith is on paternity leave. England could have given the gloves to Rew's fellow debutant Jordan Cox, or even gone back to Ollie Pope.

Rated as a fine batting prospect, there were concerns about Rew's keeping before this match and the two catches he dropped ended England's slim hopes of a fightback.

Jofra Archer bowled with fire to have Tom Latham nick off and Josh Tongue removed Devon Conway with his first ball. With New Zealand 28-2, England had a sniff.

When Ravindra flashed at Tongue, the score had moved on to 48-2, the lead 148. Rew, moving towards first slip, put down the catch with his left hand.

Even when Nicholls was missed on 97-2, England could maybe have gained a foothold. Rew flapped at the ball gloved down the leg side off Archer, much to the displeasure of the bowler.

Bethell, who took three wickets in the first innings, did not bowl until the 38th over and could have had Ravindra caught at short leg before he won a tight lbw call against the sweeping left-hander.

Nicholls, though, would not be denied, filling the gap vacated by the retirement of Kane Williamson with his 11th Test century.

He pulled Bethell for four to reach three figures and a partnership with Daryl Mitchell, unbeaten on 32, was worth 63 by the close.

Henry hauls before Fisher resists

Figure caption,

'Keeping England in the match' - Fisher reaches a first Test 50

Beginning the day 169 behind, England's hopes of getting close to New Zealand's first-innings 391 largely rested on Cox.

But Henry was superb, nagging away with wicketkeeper Tom Blundell up to the stumps. Cox chipped to mid-wicket, the sublime Blundell brilliantly held a thick edge off Archer and Tongue was caught at mid-on to give Henry a seventh five-wicket haul in Tests.

When debutant Baker joined Fisher - playing his second Test - England were 238-9. They defied New Zealand for 80 minutes and 17 overs.

Baker gamely faced 36 balls for his four. Fisher stood up to New Zealand's bouncers and occasionally carved through the covers for a 76-ball half-century that was given a huge reception by the crowd on his home ground.

Finally, in the fourth over with the second new ball, Baker edged a lifter from Kyle Jamieson, leaving Fisher unbeaten on 50.