sport news NASSER HUSSAIN: Bairstow and Overton showed exactly what McCullum and Stokes ... trends now

That was a quite superb counter-attack from Jonny Bairstow and Jamie Overton. From 91 for six, with England almost dead and buried, they took the game to New Zealand in thrilling fashion and, at 264 for six, have brought their side back into this Test.

It was an excellent example of the kind of thing Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes want from this Test team. It’s not all about blazing away when the odds are against you. It’s about working out when is the right time to attack.

Bairstow and Overton, who showed real nous on his Test debut, timed it to perfection.

And it may be the kind of performance the top order can learn from, because you have to get that balance right. Too reckless, and you risk collapsing in a heap. Too timid, and the bowlers are all over you. You have to work out a way to put them under pressure. Bairstow and Overton did that so well.

Of course, the top-order collapse came against outstanding swing bowling from Trent Boult. From the first ball, his rhythm was excellent, his lengths were good, and his pace was high enough.

Crucially, he unpicked England’s top three with late swing – not swing from the hand that allows the batters a chance to line the ball it, but swing about three-quarters of the way down, just when you’re deciding what shot to play.

I don’t think Alex Lees could have done much about the ball that got him. You always talk about hitting the top of off stump – this was the original top-of-off delivery.

If anything, Lees should maybe look at the ball that almost cost him his wicket earlier – a flash that was put down by Daryl Mitchell at first slip.

Lees deserves credit for the way he opened up his game at Trent Bridge. But if the ball’s swinging, a shot like that – neither cut nor back-foot punch – brings the cordon into play.

Ollie Pope and Zak Crawley suffered similar dismissals. If big drives against Boult’s inswing

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