New Zealand cricket's absent talent is still missing as the domestic and international season draws to a close.

BJ Watling can rest easy - his job in the New Zealand test cricket side looks the safest since he pulled on the wicketkeeping gloves at the beginning of last year.

Two wickets in as many balls from Stuart Broad during the final session of play today has put England on top after two days of the second cricket test.

England picked up where they left off in the second innings of the first test as they wore New Zealand down during a clinical day one performance.

New Zealand bowling coach Shane Bond and batsman Kane Williamson are embracing the prospect of a wicket with more life in it when the second test against England gets under way at the Basin Reserve on Thursday.

The broken beer bottle which lacerated Doug Bracewell's foot may have seen him squeezed out of New Zealand's swollen seam bowling stocks.

The first test between New Zealand and England has been drawn.

A record opening partnership against New Zealand by Alastair Cook and Nick Compton highlighted the fourth day of the opening test.

Former New Zealand cricket captain Ken Rutherford watched every ball of son Hamish's century on debut at University Oval from his home in Johannesburg.

New Zealand has produced one of its most dominant days in test cricket history at the University Oval in the test against England.

Peter Fulton is the frontrunner to captain the New Zealand test team if Brendon McCullum is injured.

The serious business of test cricket between New Zealand and England, starting Wednesday, will have a light-hearted curtain-raiser - the Barmy Army versus the Beige Brigade for The Rashes.

Long-suffering Black Caps fans showed their loyalties at Eden Park last night, even though a colourful crowd was often more entertaining than the cricket.

England completed part two of their New Zealand tour, winning the ODI series at Eden Park to go alongside the T20 rubber.

Watch a replay of all the action as England chased down the Black Caps first innings target at Eden Park and the Blues kicked off their Super Rugby season with a win over the Hurricanes in Wellington.

Both sides concede tonight's deciding One Day International could come down to the toss of a coin.

Watch a replay of our live blog of the second ODI between New Zealand and England at McLean Park in Napier.

The Black Caps have given themselves a significant confidence boost with a three-wicket win over England in today's first ODI.

After being dealt a "good hiding" in last night's final Twenty20, New Zealand coach Mike Hesson is backing his side to bounce back tomorrow and recapture their one-day form.

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum is relying on his side's resilient attitude to see them get back on track in the first one-day match against England in Hamilton tomorrow