Cook misses out yet again as England wobble early

The second Test that started here last night is Alastair Cook’s 152nd in a row: out of England’s last 700-odd days of cricket he has not missed any. It is a staggering record and will become a world record if he plays two more Tests.

But Cook’s place is in doubt after scoring nine runs in his first three innings of this series against New Zealand. He will have to make a score of some size in his second go here to alter the pattern of his recent career, which is feast or famine, a double-century or a score below 50, and often well below.

Cook was bowled by a corker from Trent Boult in the first session – pitching on off stump and swinging away to hit the top of off stump – for only two, after England had been sent in for the second time in this series. There was enough damp in the pitch to tempt home captain Kane Williamson to hit England again when they were down, after beating them by an innings and 49 runs in the first Test.

It was the eighth time that Boult had dismissed Cook in Tests. He does everything Cook does not like: he is left-arm and pitches the ball up, dragging Cook out of his comfort zone in the crease, and swings the ball away.

Tim Southee took the second wicket when James Vince (18), after several fine drives as usual, tried an over-ambitious shot – as usual. A push towards mid-on would have been a more realistic option than flick through square leg.

From 38 for two, Joe Root (20) and Mark Stoneman (28) guided England to 70 for two at lunch.

The surprise pre-match selection was that England, to implement their plan of taking 20 wickets, weakened their bowling, at least in numbers: three seamers and the debutant Jack Leach, Somerset’s left-arm spinner, plus a little of Ben Stokes when his back allowed. Chris Woakes, Moeen Ali and Craig Overton were dropped.

Meanwhile, The Daily Telegraph understands the England and Wales Cricket Board was asked by a county whether they could offer any of the banned Australian players – Steve Smith, Cameron Bancroft and David Warner – a contract this summer. The answer was a firm no as the ECB has promised to honour Cricket Australia’s ban.