So I did watch most of it, admittedly in rather low resolution via Sopcast, but it seemed to me to be a case of Sidebottom simply hitting the right length for the right batsmen.

The batsmen were playing inappropriate shots, but he was making it hard to pick the right shot to play, swinging the ball around, hitting a hard-to-judge length, and simply being really really really consistent.

McCullum’s dismissal trying to cut on a ball he really shouldn’t have was a case in point.

Sinclair’s was one of the worse shots I’ve ever seen a batsmen play in a Test. It was just shocking.

Broad looked pretty good too though, and put consistent pressure on at the other end.

For the sake of England, I hope that the top 6 fail in the second innings as well, and Pietersen and the lower order make all the runs.

England can’t afford to keep struggling along with that bunch.

Keep Pietersen and Cook at least, and probably Collingwood. At least two players in the top six need replacing, probably Strauss and Bell.

If he wasn’t captain surely he’d have been dropped. His mystical captaincy powers are overrated I think, but the problem is that Collingwood isn’t really an obvious choice to take over in Tests, so what do you do?

On form and reputation in county cricket (given that I’ve never seen any county matches), I’d have given Shah and Ramprakesh a go by now.

Every so often Bell threatens to turn into a reliably good player, but I’ve come to the conclusion he just doesn’t have the temperament at the moment. Maybe an extended run out of the side would have helped forge the iron will he is so desperately lacking….

I really do hope that only Pietersen fires in the second innings. Time for some new blood so that English batting lineups stop being so bloody boring!

As a NZ cricket (fan/chump) I have to vent my frustration with yesterday’s effort! Gutless, moronic and disgraceful are the only words that come to mind! After a fantastic 4 sessions of play, those idiots go and blow not only a test, but a series in an hour of ineptness! How can they take a paycheck at the end of this game?!

Since when did the lesson of “play every ball on its merits” stop being taught…. great track and to lose 9-60 is just a joke!

Its largely crappy batting– but must not take anything away from Sidebum. He is capable of taking wickets against the best of batting line-ups!Didnt pick up a lotta wickets against India last year, but troubled almost every top-order batsman. he will be a crucial factor in Ashes too-esp with a shaky Aussie batting
Must also say that NZL cricket at the moment looks quite barren.