There is a rhythm to a Test match, a classic structure. Slow, slow, fast, then even faster, everything is built up to the final act, the shootout on the fifth afternoon. Well, not this one. He walked to the beat of a different drum: super slow, super fast, nonexistent. After yesterday’s washout, more than half of the playing time has already passed, and we only had one round and a little. The raffle is so popular that if you decide to support it you’ll have to shell out a ten for every £ 3 you can win.

If you are a punter, the horse to support is surely New Zealand. Put a five in it and you could win £ 23. The rain, adding to Devon Conway’s dream debut, left Kane Williamson in charge.

England, picking up on 111 for 2 and missing all of their all-rounders (Stokes, Buttler, Woakes, Curran), could easily be eliminated for 250. It would take about half the day, leaving the other half for the New Zealanders to. extend their lead. They could increase to 200 by noon tomorrow, to give England a goal of around 330 in 80 overs.

In a parallel universe, England would run at 450, eliminate New Zealand for 160 and win by eight wickets. All Joe Root would have to do is do 180, then grab one of his cheap five-fors. Strange things almost happened.

The game starts at 11am, as always – the extra eight overs in the day, if we get them, will be added at the end. See you soon.