New Zealand ready to press ahead

New Zealand 386 and 134 for 1 (Richardson 46*, McCullum 72*) lead England 441 by 79 runs
Scorecard

Andrew Flintoff: belted England into the lead© Getty Images

On another see-saw day, honours again ended just about even on the third day of the first Test at Lord's. After New Zealand took control of the morning session with four wickets, Andrew Flintoff and Geraint Jones added a rollicking stand of 105 to boost England to 441 all out. However, an opportune 72 not out by Brendon McCullum, in an unbroken hundred stand with Mark Richardson, helped his side to close on 134 for 1, and with a lead of 79.

The fourth day will again be played under a deep blue sky and on a straw-coloured pitch that should continue to play well, even if the odd ball might keep low when he catches the edge of one of the cracks.

New Zealand will need to press on and look for a lead of at least 350, while England will be hoping to repeat the early successes of Friday when they took quick wickets. But on that occasion the bowlers were helped by low cloud. As the players warmed up this morning, there was not even a hint of one for miles.