England on the back foot

England's top order failed to build on promising starts and set the tone for a day of attrition as they attempted to stop New Zealand claiming control of the opening Test.

Having watched New Zealand add 188 in 49 overs on the previous day to reach a commanding first innings total of 470, the tourists slipped into a defensive mode from the start after resuming on a perilous 87 for two.

And England struggled to break out of that defensive strategy all day with even Kevin Pietersen, normally one of the most aggressive batsmen in world cricket, playing within himself as England crawled to 286 for six by the close of the third day, still trailing by 184 runs.

England had begun the day in defensive mode knowing an early clatter of wickets would allow New Zealand to take control and Michael Vaughan forged an important 44-run stand with Andrew Strauss, but both batsmen fell either side of lunch.

Vaughan managed to record England's first half-century of the series but fell only half an hour before lunch when he lunged forward at off-spinner Jeetan Patel and edged behind for 63.

Having battled for over two hours to reach lunch, Strauss followed only three balls after the resumption when he attempted to drive New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori off the front foot, only for the ball to turn into his stumps.

Pietersen had begun his innings in traditional style, striding down the wicket to launch Patel back down the pitch for six off the third ball he faced. But he withdrew into himself to a staggering degree, taking a further 91 balls to record his next boundary.

Ian Bell perished before him for a painstaking 25 off 88 balls when he was beaten by a full-length delivery from seamer Kyle Mills which seamed back into him and clipped his off-stump as he attempted to drive.

New Zealand claimed the prime wicket of Pietersen 12 overs after tea when his bizarre innings, which included 22 singles and three twos, came to an end off a leading edge, which allowed Vettori to claim a diving catch.

But all-rounder Paul Collingwood, who took 33 minutes just to get off the mark, finished unbeaten on 41, while Tim Ambrose reached an unbeaten 23 in his maiden Test innings.