Cricket: Black Caps v England, day two - 3 key moments

New Zealand's Mark Craig reacts after narrowly failing to take the wicket of England's Ian Bell on the second day of the second Test match between England and New Zealand. Photo / AP.

Herald cricket writer Andrew Alderson provides three observations from the second day of the second test between New Zealand and England.

1. New Zealand review to dismiss Alastair Cook

Like the second innings at Lord's, a bowling review of Cook was upheld, this time for a Mark Craig lbw. To the naked eye as Cook swept, umpire Ravi's decision looked sound, but captain Brendon McCullum was right to trust Craig's instincts. The ball was spinning back to hit the top of middle.

The delivery stymied England's flow at 177. They scored three runs in the next five overs and the parsimony largely extended until the arrival of the second new ball after which England lost three wickets for 17.

2. The Alastair Cook and Adam Lyth partnership

In contrast to New Zealand's 'fast game is a good game' mindset, England built their total at a slower tempo courtesy of this pair. Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Matt Henry and Mark Craig delivered tidy spells but the England openers got behind the ball, played methodically and avoided succumbing to attrition.

Cook's 75 saw him become England's leading test runs scorer, overtaking his mentor Graham Gooch, who had held the mark since August 1993 with 8900. Cook advanced to 8944 runs at an average of 46.82 from 203 innings; Gooch averaged 42.58 from 215 innings.

The England captain received a standing ovation, as did Yorkshireman Lyth at his home ground when he reached his maiden half and full centuries in his third test innings.

3. Mark Craig delivers

Craig bowled with sustained control to finish with figures of 22-10-38-1. It was a marked contrast to his expensive spells at Lord's and he got the initial break-through, dismissing Cook lbw via review. He was helped by one of McCullum's best bespoke fields of slip, leg slip, backward point, deep cover point, short cover, wide mid-off and mid-on, mid-wicket and square leg.

The dryness of the surface suggests it will continue to erode. The footmarks could become crucial to Craig's chances of bowling England out.

Earlier Craig anchored the lower order counterattack with 41 not out, accentuating his value at No.8. In 15 innings it was his fifth time getting beyond 40 and his fifth time not out.

He also snaffled Ben Stokes at second slip off Boult with 11 deliveries left in the day.