Live Commentary: New Zealand vs. England - Third Test, day one - as it happened

Hello everyone and thanks for joining me tonight for the first day of this deciding Test match.

TOSS: Alastair Cook wins the toss and opts to bowl.

As far as the teams are concerned, New Zealand are unchanged and England's only change is the much-discussed Jonny Bairstow in for Kevin Pietersen. More on that here.

Full teams just coming up.

NEW ZEALAND XI: Fulton, Rutherford, Williamson, Taylor, Brownlie, McCullum, Watling, Southee, Martin, Wagner, Boult

ENGLAND XI: Cook, Compton, Trott, Bairstow, Bell, Root, Prior, Broad, Anderson, Finn, Panesar

I suspect Bairstow won't come in at number four, and will probably be between Ian Bell and Joe Root, but could even bat just one before Matt Prior.

So, we're at the last Test of this series, and there still hasn't been a result. Rain has been the story in both previous Tests, with day one of the opener a complete washout and not many more than 30 overs bowled on the last two days of the second.

Both ended as draws, but it was New Zealand who were stronger in Dunedin, certainly at the start, while England would surely have wrapped it up in Wellington had the namesake boots not been required.

It has been incredibly frustrating with the weather so far, but... It's looking good for this entire Test match, believe it or not! The pitch is not as flat as at either of the previous grounds either, so wickets could well fall. I don't anticipate a draw here.

So about five minutes away from the start. England will want an early breakthrough here, and this is going to be a test of the New Zealand top order. I think the Black Caps are a stronger batting outfit than bowling, so it's an important session for them.

The players are making their way out. It's not very full in Auckland, but I expect it will slowly fill up throughout the morning.

Peter Fulton and Hamish Rutherford are facing first, with Jimmy Anderson to bowl. Here goes!

Good line and length from Anderson to start with, but he straightens one up and Fulton pushes to the leg side to get himself off the mark with a pair. It wasn't Anderson's best opening over ever, but just those two from it.

Stuart Broad is handed the ball at the other end instead of Steven Finn. Rutherford pushes to covers to get himself off the mark easily. It's a good start for Broad, but there's not much to tempt the batsmen into any edges thus far.

Anderson is bowling straighter to Rutherford than he was to Fulton, looking for that early LBW. It's a watchful over from the left-hander and he sees it out without much issue.

Broad pushes his length up a little and is almost rewarded with Fulton's edge. They're being pegged back a bit early on, the Kiwis, and it's the second maiden in a row. Just three from four overs to start this match.

After watching Anderson in the previous over, Rutherford gets the chance for a half-volley and makes no mistake driving right back past the bowler for four. The very next ball Anderson pitches one just outside off at a great length and is very unlucky not the catch the batsman's edge.

Fulton gets his first runs for a while with a clip to leg; just his third from 20 deliveries. Rutherford tucks one away to backward square leg for a couple of his own. The opening bowlers haven't created much of a stir so far, the batsmen are comfortable as it stands.

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Anderson continues and Fulton swings wildly at a wide, shortish one that he should have left comfortably. A single off the final ball takes the Black Caps to 11. If they can keep this up for a while longer then it'll be a promising start.

Fulton almost gets an edge again, this time from Broad, and he's living a shade dangerously. He gets his first four off the final ball with a good clips through the leg side to the rope.

Anderson given the ball to have another go at the left-handed Rutherford, and he gets one to bounce nicely before the batsman scrambles to the other end with a single. Fulton sees out the final ball and again it was a comfortable over for New Zealand.

First bowling change from Cook as Finn comes in to replace Broad. His line is a little too leg side, and Rutherford takes a single off his pads. Just the one run coming from the over and it's slow progress so far, with 10 overs gone.

Anderson continues at the other end and Rutherford struggles to score, despite looking for the gap on a couple of occasions. He can't get any runs and that's another maiden. Quite a few of those so far.

Finn lets a loose one go a little wider and Fulton latches on to it and gets it up and over behind point to the boundary. The rest of the over was quite a good line from Finn, so Fulton doesn't need to play at any others.

Rutherford gets straight off strike with a single, before Fulton goes after one and gets a thick edge, but it races past third slip and to the boundary. A peach of a delivery form Anderson ends the over, but this time there's no edge.

A good piece of fielding from Monty Panesar - rare words - stops a four right on the third man boundary. Instead, Rutherford gets just a single. Fulton clips really nicely over square leg but it bounces twice to the boundary. Quite a lot of action in that over, considering.

Still Anderson continues in what is quite a long spell now. Fantastic delivery from Anderson, who pitches in a bouncer and Rutherford tries to back away but gets clipped on the grille. He recovers well to defend, but it's a good maiden from Anderson.

Finn continues after the drinks break and gets in a short one early on to Fulton, who leaves it well. He prods one slightly in the air to midwicket, but it's comfortably safe for a single. A good shorter one flies past the bat of Rutherford and just one run comes from the over.

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Anderson is given a rest, with Broad returning to the attack, and Fulton gets an immediate couple off the first ball, with a push to mid-on getting Rutherford back on strike. Rutherford hasn't scored for a while and he slashes at a shorter one but it avoids the edge.

Finn carries on but is looking a little frustrated as he whacks down a bouncer that Fulton cannot possibly play at. The right-hander picks up his 25th run clipping off his pads for the only one off the over.

Rutherford thick-edges to short leg for a single, before Fulton slashes at a wider one and directs it over slips for a rapid four. He then guides one nicely through the covers for another three and a pretty expensive over from Broad.

Finn carries on and he remains very economical. Rutherford leaves and blocks well from good line bowling before something of a half-volley is offered up, which Rutherford drives for two. He gets two more this time to midwicket with a nice clip. The scoring has just picked up now as we edge towards the last quarter of this session.

Fine shot from Fulton, as he guides a drive through mid-on for four off Broad's first ball. There's half an appeal for LBW, but it was missing the stumps and there was probably an edge, too. If England don't get a wicket in the next half an hour it's a big session for the Black Caps. Just that four from the over.

Monty is in to the attack, replacing Finn. Rutherford goes after him straight away but the bowler fields well so save some runs off his very first ball. A nicely worked single from Rutherford, playing late to the leg side after the spin. A good first over from Panesar.

Broad remains as the seamer from the other end. There's a single for Rutherford, playing late to clip through point, before at the other end Fulton pulls and gets enough on it to clear the fine leg boundary - there was perhaps a bit of luck about that one. He follows it up with a nice drive through covers, but it's fielded for just one. Nine off that one.

Now it's Panesar's turn to get smacked about. This time Rutherford whacks over deep extra cover, then a few balls later goes the other side of the bowler for another six! Unbelievable stuff and they're cashing in on the runs here before lunch.

That six was enough for Broad to be removed, as Finn returns. Fulton clips him fine for four straight away so there's still no let up. Aside from that, it's another very good over from Finn, but it looks as though New Zealand will head into lunch well on top.

Monty is given a chance to redeem himself here, and this time Rutherford takes just a single and gets off strike. No more runs from the over, however and it's much better from Monty. Just a couple left before lunch.

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Rutherford throws away his wicket right before lunch! He plays all around one short of a length and succeeds only in plopping it to Cook at slip. The skipper does not drop those and it's now not looking quite so dominant for New Zealand. Tricky time for Kane Williamson to come in.

Williamson negotiates his first two deliveries and there is to be one more over before the break.

LUNCH: It's Monty with the last over, and Fulton sits back to see out the over. He's not tempted to play at any from the over and the first session ends with a maiden.

Well, that turned into a very interesting first session. New Zealand started very slowly and cranked up the runs in the final few overs, but England got the vital breakthrough in the penultimate over. It's something to work on for the England attack now.

Join me again at around 12.10am for the next session! Until then.

Welcome back! We're not too far away from the afternoon session, and it could well be important seeing how the day has gone so far.

The players are coming out into the sunny middle, all set for play. An early wicket could see New Zealand in trouble, but if they bat like they did for the majority of the morning they could be in a great position by tea. Anderson takes the ball after lunch.

Williamson gets himself off the mark straight away; that's just what he'll have wanted. No joy for Fulton as he plays cautiously on a full stomach and sees out the rest of the over. Good start from Anderson.

From the other end it's Finn, who has been the pick of the England bowlers so far. Despite a decent start from the seamer, he's cut over slips for four off the last ball with his only loose delivery from the over.

A good leave from Fulton as Anderson gets one to nip in off the seam, and the batsman follows up with a punch through point for two runs. A solid start with the ball from England after lunch, even if there's not a great deal of threat from the pitch.

Finn continues to bowl compactly, if not particularly quickly. Williamson doesn't go after him and it's a maiden.

Fulton runs two with a neat punch through covers, which moves him five away from his 50. He gets one closer off the final ball of a decent Anderson over. At the other end, Williamson is on five.

FIFTY FOR FULTON: With that single, Fulton is on strike with four needed to reach his half-ton; Finn stands in his way. Not for long, though, as he strikes beautifully between mid-on and midwicket to bring up his 50 from 109 balls. A very good knock.

Williamson is cautiously working his way into the innings at the other end. He doesn't want to play too expansively just yet to Anderson and as such it's Anderson's first maiden since lunch. They're doing just what's needed at the start of this session, the Black Caps.

It's not long until the first bowling change of the session, with Monty coming in for Finn. Without much ado, Fulton flicks a full one over midwicket for a good four; the only four, in fact, from the over. There's nothing in this pitch for Panesar at the moment.

It's Anderson's turn to overpitch and Williamson clips it deservedly through slips and gully for four. Another drive for Williamson, this time straighter, has the same result. Yet another four comes, albeit this time from an edge that races past slips. As Anderson overs go, that's very expensive indeed.

They are really taking it to England now! Panesar comes again and Fulton fair smacks him over midwicket for a big six - the fourth of the innings already! Only one scoring shot from the over, but it was a big one.

England's bowlers seem to be out of ideas here. Anderson tries a straight one but Williamson is too good to pass that up and clips it off his legs beautifully for four. He pitches shorter, and Williamson deals with that one too, this time pulled away for a couple.

Panesar has switched his line to some way outside off stump; previously he was being knocked all over the place previously. It's just added a touch of uncertainly here for Fulton, until he gets a thick edge that's stopped on the boundary by Finn. Just two runs; better from Panesar.

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The runs have dried up a little bit with Broad, who has come in for Anderson, also looking for that outside off line. Williamson is refusing to bite at the moment and it's a maiden - just Broad's second of the innings.

Panesar has a bit of a spring back in his step now following his successful previous over and he keeps up his consistency. Fulton looks to sweep the last ball, but doesn't get much on it and that's two maidens in a row from England.

Williamson is playing a very intelligent innings, waiting for the loose deliveries, as he drives Broad back down the ground for four. Broad kicks the ball in frustration as drinks are called.

Panesar carries on after the short break and he's finally doing the job of slowing down the runs. That is until he pitches one far too short for Fulton to pull over square leg for a simple four off the final ball of the over.

A leg bye gets Williamson off strike, before Fulton guides a lovely drive through extra cover and Panesar does well on the rope to save one run. Williamson, back on strike, steers a four past gully before finishing off an expensive over with a cut for two.

Panesar comes in for another over and he keeps Fulton alert with some more defensive bowling. There's not really a need for the batsman to play at those and with the score as it is a maiden is as good for New Zealand as it is for England.

Broad now comes in to Williamson and he almost tempts the batsman into wagging his bat at one he should be leaving. He doesn't clip it, though, and leaves the next one well alone. A good over from Broad, but the line he's persisting with isn't likely to get wickets, which is what England need desperately.

A hint of excitement from Monty's next over as Matt Prior whips the bails off, but Fulton never moved from his crease. Another maiden, and that's three consecutive now. The pre-lunch lull has happened a bit later than usual, it seems.

Broad comes in again and there's absolutely nothing happening at the moment except a few blocks and a lot of leaves. Four straight overs without any runs now.

Runs! Suddenly lots of them. Fulton pulls Monty twice for two great fours before launching one from outside off right over midwicket for six! Superb hitting from the opener.

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Finn is now back into the attack. Williamson smacks him through extra cover for two runs, before excellent fielding from Ian Bell stops any more runs a few balls later. That means just the two from the over. Williamson is 15 away from his 50, while Fulton is 17 off his 100.

Cook persists with Monty. Fulton happy to take a single with a push to deep mid-on. Williamson advances and clips over the on field, but he didn't get hold of it as he wanted and gets just two for his troubles. The partnership moves on to 81.

Finn continues and is bowling a bit short. As such, Fulton swivels and pulls to the boundary. He moves on to 88 with that and is surely going to reach a century; he's barely been troubled.

Panesar flies through another maiden over. He's definitely improved since being hit for the early sixes, but there's just nothing there in the pitch for him. It makes Cook's decision to bowl an intriguing one.

Finn seems to have a little bit more pace since lunch, but Fulton isn't troubled by it. The last ball is straighter and almost catches the opener out, but he gets bat on it and runs a single.

Fulton drives Monty right back past him, but it's fielded at by mid-on for just one. Williamson gets a single of his own and Fulton gets another off his pads as New Zealand keep the runs ticking over.

Finn continues with his outside off stump line and Fulton shows good discipline to leave them. As soon as Finn goes straighter Fulton drives him back down the ground for a fine four. Finn's response? A good bouncer, if a little high. Good cricket all round.

It's still Panesar, who has bowled for much of this session. Williamson takes a single to get Fulton, who is on 95, back on strike but that remains the only run from a well bowled Monty over. There will be one more before tea.

TEA: Finn takes the ball for the final over before tea with Williamson 11 away from a 50. The batsman wants his wicket intact through the tea break and he does by defending the over, finishing with a solid forward defence.

Well, New Zealand are firmly in control of this Test match thanks to that 94 partnership. An unscathed session from the hosts and it's been really tough work in the field for England.

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Join me again at around 2.40am for the final session of an intriguing day. Can England get back into this in the final two hours of play?

Hello all. We're back ready for the final session of the day. Panesar will bowl first.

Fulton, who has never scored a Test match century, is five away. Monty chucks a full toss, but the batsman refuses the invitation. It's not coming in that over, as Fulton instead defends to work himself back in after tea. Maiden.

It's Finn from the other end and he starts with a nippy bouncer to Williamson. He moves on to 40 with a single and Fulton is back on strike, still five away. A superb pull to the midwicket fence moves him on to 99.

Panesar has bowled well since tea and that's his second maiden running with some good, full bowling that Williamson is happy to block. Fulton will be back on strike now, can he do it this over?

The field is tight, ready to pounce on any mistake. Finn's line is outside off, too, tempting Fulton into playing some shots. However, he cannot beat the fielders at cover and another maiden goes by. The wait goes on.

CENTURY FOR FULTON: Williamson takes a single from Panesar, which brings up the 100 partnership. The field closes in again. Fulton goes for it down the ground but only picks out mid-on. He finally gets there with a clip to midwicket! The 34-year-old gets his first Black Caps century!

Finn's next over doesn't start well as Fulton top-edges to the 53-metre boundary behind Prior for four. A single gets Williamson back on strike and he too gets one run with a nudge to fine leg. The score is ticking along nicely now for New Zealand.

Panesar continues to huff and puff but he's getting nothing at all from the pitch. He's not conceding many runs as he gets through his eighth maiden, but nor is he looking likely to pick up a wicket.

FIFTY FOR WILLIAMSON: It's still Finn and Fulton pulls a semi-short one to midwicket for a single. Boundaries are coming thick and fast now as Williamson pulls to the rope before slapping one the other way to third man to reach his half-century in style.

Panesar has another go at claiming a wicket but there seems no way past Peter Fulton at the moment. He defends another over solidly and Monty continues to keep the score down. Fulton wasn't under any pressure then, though.

There's a bowling change from Cook as Broad is back in to replace Finn. His line is quite straight to Williamson ans there's a muted appeal for LBW but the batsman just got an edge. A good return to the attack from Broad, he's at least looking motivated.

It's conservative batting now from New Zealand. That's surprising as they've both achieved milestones, but they're just trading in singles for the time being. One each from the over; the first runs from Panesar for a while. The umpires have their light meters out - it doesn't look too dark though.

Broad carries on to Williamson and the batsman clips a full one just behind point for a swift single. Fulton gets inside edge only trying to clip Broad, who has come around the wicket, to the leg side. Just the one from the over and it looks as though Joe Root is warming up.

He won't bowl yet though, as Panesar carries on. Williamson sniffed out a short one before Monty even released it to smack it to the midwicket boundary. Williamson goes the other side this time as Panesar offers up a slow, short one that is sent packing to the rope with a cut. The exact same delivery is this time cut for two, but that's a hugely expensive over with 10 from it.

Broad's wide angle from around the wicket tempts Fulton into a wild swing reaching outside off, but he's safe from catching an edge. He flicks off his pads for a single, which is the only run from the over. That's drinks, and possible a change of ball.

Panesar now to carry on and the batsmen still look happy to work with singles. They get a couple each off the over, without even a hint of turn for the spinner. It's been tough for England all day and especially for Monty.

Jonathan Trott is given the ball for a bowl in the run-up to the new ball. It's a good line from his gentle-paced deliveries and Fulton remains careful in defence, refusing to go at the part-timer. So Trott starts with a good maiden.

They're completely settled the two batsmen. Williamson clips a single off Panesar's first ball and Fulton is more than happy to leave the ones slightly outside the line of off. That's Panesar's 10th maiden from 25 overs bowled today.

Williamson isn't so defensive to Trott, as he smacks a four through midwicket with a back foot pull on the swivel. He gets a single off the last ball to retain the strike, although it could have been more but for good fielding in the covers.

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England's other part-timer Joe Root comes into the fray to replace Panesar. Williamson doesn't take long to go after him either with a shot back past Root from a delivery that was just dropped too short.

Trott gets another over with two left until the new ball. Williamson gets a single to hand the strike back to Fulton for the first time in a few overs. Trott goes loose with his final delivery, but Fulton picks up just one clipping off his pads. The partnership moves on to 148.

It's Root again and Fulton blocks out the entire over to get the 22-year-old his first maiden. Cook immediately takes the new ball; will this one prove more successful?

The Burnley Express is handed the ball straight away as the sun comes back out in Auckland. The second delivery bounces twice to Prior, who lets it through his gloves and away for four byes. Bad news for England: there's not much swing with this ball either.

Broad is trusted with the new cherry from the other end. He straight away gets it to nip back into Williamson, but the inside edge misses the stumps. Fulton clips through midwicket but it doesn't quite reach the boundary and he has to settle for three.

Anderson tries again, this time to Fulton. He does find an edge, but the batsman just about controls it well enough to guide it safely between slip and gully. Two from the over.

Williamson makes good contact with a shorter ball from Broad to guide it to third man for a couple. Broad responds by zipping one towards his pads, but Williamson gets bat on it. Biggest appeal of the day comes on the following ball, but it looked high and leg side from here. Williamson then cuts just behind point for two, before Broad gets some seam movement finally as the ball fizzes past the stumps.

Fulton gets a thick edge on a good length Anderson delivery and gets three for it. It's good bowling from Anderson but he just can't catch a break as he's rarely threatened all day.

It's still Broad from the other end and he's still getting some movement off the seam into the right-handers. Fulton survives and gets off strike with a single and Williamson sees out the rest of the over. They're nullifying this new ball well, are the Black Caps.

Finally Anderson gets a shade of swing away from the right-handed Williamson. I think a lot of it came after the ball seamed, but it's at least a bit promising. Just the one run from that over, the 87th of the day.

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Finn comes into the attack late in the day. Fulton brings up New Zealand's 250 with an angled clip to midwicket for three runs. Apart from that one that was aimed towards the pads, it's a decent start from Finn to his new spell.

Anderson to bowl the penultimate over of the day. He's really unlucky not to catch the edge of Fulton's bat after he played right through a nippy one. He survives, however, and we're into the last over.

STUMPS: No joy for Finn off the final over of the day, but plenty of joy for New Zealand as they take complete control of this Test match!

Well, Alastair Cook's decision to bowl first has backfired and New Zealand have lost just one wicket all day. They've batted superbly in testing conditions for the bowlers and will now look to press home their advantage tomorrow.

Thanks for joining me tonight. Be sure to return at the same time tomorrow for what promises to be a very interesting day. Goodbye.