England's quest to wrap up the New Zealand innings was halted by bad weather at the start of day three in the final Test at Trent Bridge.

NZ apologises to Vietnam veterans ...
Wilkinson out of New Zealand tour ...
Sheff Wed 1-1 Plymouth ...
Cricket: England ring changes ...
Haye v Maccarinelli match report ... Play could not begin at the scheduled 1100 BST, with the covers on.

There was also drizzle in the air but the forecast is better for later and it is hoped play can begin before lunch.

James Anderson put England in a superb position on day two, taking all six wickets as the Kiwis closed 268 runs behind England at 96-6.

LATEST ACTION (ALL TIMES BST)

e-mail tms@bbc.co.uk (with 'For Ben Dirs' in the subject), text 81111 (with "CRICKET" as the first word) or use 606. (Not all contributions can be used)

By Ben Dirs

1059: The covers are going nowhere at the moment - it's still raining, if only lightly, but there's not a lick of wind to blow the dark clouds away. New Zealand require 68 to make England bat again, and given these conditions, you would have to expect England to stick the visitors back in if they fail to make the runs.

1054: Jimmy Anderson is chasing Muttiah Muralitharan's Trent Bridge Test innings record of 8-70, which the Sri Lankan legend set in 2006. You'd have to fancy the Lancashire man to beat that, but Kiwi skipper Daniel Vettori is a gnarled old blighter and he won't be gifting Anderson anything.

"Should Anderson take the next wicket to fall he will become the only England opening bowler to take the first seven wickets of a first innings, bettering George Lohmann, Sydney Barnes, Ian Botham and Neil Foster."
Steve Pittard in the TMS inbox

"The outfield isn't wet, the pitch is dry and it's just a case of waiting for the wind to get up a bit and blow these dark clouds away."
Jonathan Agnew on TMS

1045: Just been told an amazing story about Danish comedian, author, and radio presenter Sandi Toksvig. Unfortunately, I can't tell you what it is because I might get sued, but it involves a scooter, a Range Rover and a very small middle finger.

"It is 3.36am here in Calgary and it's raining hard. Is it just me or is this rain business getting to the point of ridiculousness? I'd take a fiver on any horse other than Big Brown to take the Yankee Triple Crown and a tenner on Collingwood getting a century. And I've gotta agree - Sidebottom can't contain himself much longer, ditto 'Malfoy' Broad."
John, Calgary, in the TMS inbox

1035: Let's all cross our fingers for Jimmy, who could join Jim Laker and Anil Kumble as the only men to take 10 wickets in an innings in Test cricket today. On a personal note, I'm in serious need of a pep up, battling as I am the demon weed. I find that I am constantly furious at the moment: on the Tube this morning, a woman allowed her two children to duck in front of me and nick a couple of seats. I was about to point out that when I was a kid my mum used to make me stand up and give adults a seat on public transport, but I realised that a) I would have sounded about 70 and b) I might have been stabbed.

1030: All right? Fiver this match is all over by 6pm. Not sure about Jimmy nabbing a 10-fer though, I have a horrible feeling Sidebottom's going to relieve himself on Anderson's strawberries. Bad news - it's a bit overcast at Nottingham and the covers are on, we may not be starting on time. A bit of drizzle, but the main problem is bad light, although the men in the know are predicting an improvement.

(BBC)

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