Pope & Root lead England pursuit of 296 - highlights & reaction

Ben Stokes is a captain. He has that presence and that body language. It's hard to teach that presence as a skipper. With his field positions Ben Stokes is thinking 'how can we get them out' not containing. It's evident from three matches he can read the game as well as the natural presence with his leadership. It's the best three Test matches England have played in many years, and you can see the players have bought into this brand of cricket.

Greg Double: Joe Root centre stage at Headingley > anyone on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury.

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Joe Root (55*) and Ollie Pope (81*) rescued England from 51-2 with an unbeaten 132-run stand.

I'm sticking with Zak Crawley for India at Edgbaston. He will need some runs. Today's innings he played too many shots. You can't expect to get bat into form by playing loads of shots.

But I'm going to steal an idea from Kumar Sangakkara. He said Jos Buttler should open in Test cricket - and I'm not against that idea. If they are going to commit to this brand of cricket why not? I have got a funny feeling if it is ever going to work then it's with Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum.

I don't know if Jos Buttler wants to play cricket or not, but when Kumar said that I thought 'why not?'. It's out the box but if England are going to go with this style why not put the most powerful car at the top.

Billings' catch was bizarre.

But this from Joe Root was just genius.

Just watching that last session the New Zealand attack looked on the ropes. They have fought hard but this England side are playing a dynamic brand of cricket. You saw this morning Ben Stokes was setting clever fields, and I'm delighted for Jack Leach.

Ben Foakes was ruled out of the remainder of the Test with Covid-19.

Replacement Sam Billings drove from Kent to Leeds, arriving at 1am this morning.

Then he did this.

You can clearly see Jack Leach has a pitch which will help. New Zealand haven't played him particularly well but today was the best I've seen him bowl. The arm ball he bowled to dismiss Tim Southee is not one I've seen before. I think he's gone away and worked with Jeetan Patel and he's bowled with greater consistency. He bowled too many pies at Trent Bridge. He's a great character the fans like him because he gives it everything.

From one left-arm spinner to another...

The pitch has got easier and easier, apart from batters facing the spinners. Jack Leach was able to cash in for Ben Stokes while Kane Williamson has a part timer in Michael Bracewell who England's batters have shredded. Leach has got better throughout this match - his confidence has grown, but he needs that time bowling behind him.

This game will be massive for Jack's confidence - the fact he can control the run-rate and take wickets, especially in the first innings. Because in the second innings we know he is a good bowler and he takes wickets and he bowls tight.

I'm really pleased for him. He deserves that for what's happened to him in his career. He's been in and out a little bit, he's had illnesses, that injury at Lord's fielding...

So I'm delighted for him. He's a top, top guy and the more he plays, the more he will learn about bowling and get better.

Jack Leach will finish the match with 10-166.

SMS Message: Can’t help but think if England’s 2nd innings had begun an hour earlier they would have gone for the win tonight, such is their new attack-minded approach. from Dave, Pontypool

Can’t help but think if England’s 2nd innings had begun an hour earlier they would have gone for the win tonight, such is their new attack-minded approach.

If England are able to start on time they might get them in a session tomorrow morning - possibly with a delayed lunch. The only thing stopping them would be Trent Boult because I don't think Tim Southee is quite what he was.

The first session belonged to New Zealand but it's been all England since then.

That's it for day four, folks.

What a terrific day of Test cricket. New Zealand bossed it at the start but England have smashed it from thereafter. They are in complete control and on course for a series clean sweep.

That was Joe Root's 81st score of fifty or more, with 27 of those being converted into centuries.

SMS Message: Ref Grumpy Old Chef (18:42). Please can we stop talking about Jos? He's too valuable to the white ball team. I'd humbly suggest Phil Salt as he's potentially not going to make the first XI of the white ball team and he's worthy of a run in the Test side. from Norfolknick

Ref Grumpy Old Chef (18:42). Please can we stop talking about Jos? He's too valuable to the white ball team. I'd humbly suggest Phil Salt as he's potentially not going to make the first XI of the white ball team and he's worthy of a run in the Test side.