Looks like NZ will need their IPL players, especially Mills, Oram and Vettori for the bowling. Kent are currently 193/1 at tea with Rob Key on 106* and James Tredwell on 67* (why is he batting three?), and only Joe Denly (12) has been out to Southee early on.

No offence to Kent, but they're not the best county side and in early-season (and wet) English conditions with plenty of test match practice (save for Southee) not so long ago an attack of Martin, Southee, O'Brien, Elliott and Patel is looking powder-puff.

Well, maybe no big surprises here, and I for one wish them all - Steve Bucknor, Simon Taufel and Darrell Hair - a successful series. It's unlikely to be without its controversial moments, as cricket always has some talking points and that's what keeps boards like this alive. But hopefully the controversies will be the usual discussions about whether the catch carried or the ball maybe pitched outside leg ... hopefully there will be nothing more to discuss.

BBC SPORT | Cricket | Hair set to return in second Test

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I'd be very surprised if a series between England and New Zealand featured any controversy, but if Hair has completed rehabilitation I have nothing against him umpiring.

In the meantime Tredwell has scored his second first class century (I'm still surprised at him batting at 3, but hats off to him) and Key is still batting on 120, Kent 246/1. Welcome New Zealand .

NZ's tour goes from bad to worse after their rain delayed start

Ah well, guess they will say arguably their 5 best players are returning for the test series, so it aint over by a long shot, yet.

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I wouldn't read to much into this, the bowlers are still getting used to the conditions and the Duke ball.

They had a box of Duke balls sent out to NZ to practice with a while ago.

Because if anyone else in the Kent side named was batting three, I'd have shot myself. Tredders is one of the few batsmen with any form at the moment, he opened against Sussex last week and did quite well.

From what I've heard, it's more the bowlers are bowling with too much width more than anything. And with first-innings' limited to 100 overs each, they've only got 10 overs tomorrow morning to rectify that.

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At least How is in a bit of form, as is Redmond from the previous game. They put on 35 this innings, which is a lot better than the 19 that How and Bell (mainly Bell) managed last time. As for Marshall- the selctors ahve to ask themselves three questions. 1. Will he do a better job with the bat than Oram? 2. Ditto McCullum? 3. Ditto Vettori? If the answer is no (as I suspect it is) then he really should be surplus to requirements.

Well, he showed me.