England v NZ, 2nd Investec Test, Headingley, 2nd day

In Root, England have something special to savour

May 25, 2013: With a mix of David Gower, Graham Thorpe and Michael Vaughan, Joe Root can capture hearts and minds

England v NZ, 2nd Investec Test, Headingley, 2nd day

McCullum's management keeps NZ hopes alive

May 25, 2013: He had to carefully plot his way to the second new ball, but by keeping his best bowlers fresh, New Zealand's captain has just about kept his side in this series

England v NZ, 2nd Investec Test, Headingley, 2nd day

Root stands tall for county and country

May 25, 2013: In the face of so much expectation, Joe Root delivered when his side needed him and when his home crowd were so willing him to

England v NZ, 2nd Investec Test, Headingley

Pietersen shadow lingers over England

May 23, 2013: Headingley still evokes memories of Kevin Pietersen's 2012 outburst but it now offers a further audition for his post-reintegration understudies

New Zealand in England 2013

New Zealand shaken and stirred

May 21, 2013: The second-innings collapse at Lord's has revived concerns about New Zealand's top order and the batsmen will be keeping a close eye on conditions at Headingley

England v NZ, 1st Investec Test, Lord's, 4th day

A bad year for New Zealand's batsmen

May 19, 2013: Stats highlights from England's impressive 170-run win in the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's

England v NZ, 1st Investec Test, Lord's, 4th day

Anderson's magic not to be missed

May 19, 2013: None of the other three England bowlers with 300 Test wickets - or many other of the game's finest swing merchants - could have bowled better than James Anderson at Lord's

England v NZ, 1st Investec Test, Lord's, 4th day

New Zealand's hour of madness

May 19, 2013: After three days of competing with England on an even footing, Brendon McCullum's side collapsed in a manner reminiscent of their Cape Town horror show

England v NZ, 1st Investec Test, Lord's, 4th day

Mercurial Broad proves class again

May 19, 2013: His search for consistency goes on but Stuart Broad's display once more showed he has the attributes to be a special bowler

England v NZ, 1st Investec Test, Lord's, 4th day

The delights and frustrations of Stuart Broad

May 19, 2013: His ability should make him a national treasure but there is an element to Stuart Broad that gets fans gnashing their teeth

England v NZ, 1st Investec Test, Lord's, 4th day

Southee's ten upstaged

May 19, 2013: Plays of the day from the fourth day of the first Test between England and New Zealand

England v NZ, 1st Investec Test, Lord's, 3rd day

Baby-faced Root shows maturity

May 18, 2013: The youngest player on either team, Joe Root appeared the senior man during a potentially match-defining partnership with Jonathan Trott

England v NZ, 1st Investec Test, Lord's, 3rd day

Root's front foot opens the door

May 18, 2013: In another over Joe Root would have left the ball or defended it but instead a moment's hesitation left England looking confused and worried

England v NZ, 1st Investec Test, Lord's, 3rd day

Broad grasps his chance

May 18, 2013: ESPNcricinfo presents the plays of the day from the third day at Lord's

England v NZ, 1st Investec Test, Lord's, 2nd day

Indispensable Anderson master of his craft

May 17, 2013: He may not be the quickest or the most dangerous bowler in world cricket but James Anderson has mastered the skill of fast bowling and England would be lost without him

England v New Zealand, 1st Investec Test, Lord's, 2nd day

Taylor's aggression unsettles England

May 17, 2013: Every batsman in before him had struggled to combat conditions, but Ross Taylor flicked a switch and left England under pressure

England v NZ, 1st Investec Test, Lord's, 2nd day

Taylor shrugs off his issues in swaggering knock

May 17, 2013: With others who had come to the crease at Lord's prisoners of the conditions, Ross Taylor played an unshackled innings that displayed his wonderful talent

England v NZ, 1st Investec Test, Lord's, 2nd day

Southee's big wicket, Prior's rare drop

May 17, 2013: ESPNcricinfo presents the plays of the day from the second day at Lord's

New Zealand's middle-order problems

May 17, 2013: New Zealand seem to have unearthed a solid opening combination, but they'll want more runs from their middle order, which has been the worst among the top teams since 2007

England v New Zealand, 1st Investec Test, Lord's

England go-slow largely vindicated

May 16, 2013: It may not have wowed the punters but in tricky conditions and against good bowling, England may have established a strong foundation in this game