Herald cricket scribes David Leggat and Andrew Alderson discuss the players who have made it into the test side against England.

The two men accused of assaulting star cricketer Jesse Ryder have appeared in court this morning. The pair, aged 20 and 37 and both from Christchurch, appeared in the dock at Christchurch District Court at the post-earthquake temporary Nga Hau e Wha Marae venue. The 37-year-old has been charged with assaulting Jesse Daniel Ryder and also with reckless disregard for the safety of others. The younger man, believed to be his nephew, is facing two charges of assault, one in connection with the older man.

The V8 Supercars head across Bass Strait this weekend for the second round of this year's series. IRWIN Racing's Lee Holdsworth is looking forward to Symmons Plains and a split-race format which will feature a half-time period much like a football match.

Jamie Whincup takes motorsport writer Eric Thompson for a hot lap of the new Pukekohe Park Raceway in his Holden V8 Supercar – and bins it through the esses.

Top Herald rugby scribes Wynne Gray and Gregor Paul discuss Richard Kahui's departure to Japan, and whether they should be included in the super 15 competition.

Golf carts haven't changed much over the years. They look and feel the same. What if there was a way to improve the traditional golf cart concept and take away some of the limitations? That is what Bubba Watson and Oakley set out to do. They created the world's first hovercraft golf cart. Using hovercraft technology, the BW1 is able to glide over any terrain, including grass, sand, and water. Courtesy: YouTube/BubbasHover

Rickie Lambert spoke of his ambition to represent New Zealand in international football, after learning that he could qualify to play for the All Whites through his grandfather -- however, the new was later revealed to be part of an April Fools' Day joke by Southampton Football Club! Courtesy: YouTube/theofficialsaints

Two old men, both in their 90s, risked comfortable senior-citizen status as well as brittle hamstrings to stage a 100-meter race at a track meet in San Sebastian, Spain. Video / Youtube: Proactive Technolabs

Police hunting who attacked Jesse Ryder outside a Christchurch bar say they don't yet know who is behind the vicious assault but are working along "positive lines of inquiry''. The cricketer is in an induced coma in Christchurch Hospital with critical injuries - including a fractured skull and a punctured lung - after an "unprovoked'' bar attack.

Cricketer Jesse Ryder is in Christchurch Hospital with injuries including a fractured skull, a punctured lung and internal bleeding after being attacked by several men in a bar early this morning. Police said they were investigating the incident at Aikman's Bar in the Christchurch suburb of Merivale after a fight broke out in the bar then spilled onto the pavement in the early hours of today.

Herald cricket scribes David Leggat and Andrew Alderson discuss the exhilarating 'on the edge of your seat' test match at Eden Park with the Black Caps falling short of a win a by only one wicket.

Golf gear including a bag and several clubs belonging to three members of the England cricket team has been stolen from the Auckland hotel where they were staying. Police are looking to identify a man who entered an insecure storage room at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland's Waterloo Quadrant and stole the golf clubs and gear on March 24.

Jamie Whincup, Red Bull Racing, takes Mayor of Auckland Len Brown for a high octane tour of Downtown Auckland. With a quick diversion in to Ports Of Auckland for some burn outs. courtesy youtube/V8SupercarsOfficial

This is Andrew Cassidy, also known as the 'Welsh Maradona', trying out some skills down at his local car park. Video / Youtube: Daniel Howlett

In the first episode of Levi Sherwood - Home Again we visit the current Red Bull X-Fighters champion at his home in rural New Zealand. Levi has created a compound with a MotoX track and dirt FMX set up. He reflects on last seasons competition, what motivates him to win and why he loves riding FMX.

The final act of a magnificent season of New Zealand surf lifesaving was played out at picturesque Waipu Cove, as the top IRB drivers, crews and patients competed in the BP Surf Rescue championships. Produced by Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Journalism. Song: Boys of Summer by The Ataris Dscribe Journalism dscribe.co.nz info@dscribe.co.nz Additional GoPro footage thanks to Sam!

The 52nd annual Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford returns to Victoria, Australia from March 27th- April 7th, welcoming the men and women of the ASP World Championship Tour. Australian competitors Mick Fanning and Sally Fitzgibbons will be battling to defend their respective titles from the 2012 season with hopes of ringing the bell once again. The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach serves as one of the world's oldest surfing events since its inauguration in 1962, later promoted to a professional competition in 1973. Bells Beach is known to deliver epic swell surrounded by breathtaking landscape. Watch both the men's and women's ASP WCT events LIVE on http://www.live.ripcurl.com. Footage Courtesy of Rip Curl.

Top Herald rugby scribes Wynne Gray and Gregor Paul discuss some of the young players that are 'rattling some cages'.

85kph, aesthetic, gravity-defying freefall – cliff diving is the purest extreme sport on earth and has many centuries of tradition but has never been as youthful as it will be in 2013. The average age of 27.9 years is the youngest to date and it promises to be another year of rapid evolution of one of the most breathtaking of all sports. In its fifth season, the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series will hit new waters and determine a new champion during eight challenging competitions across Europe, Asia and North and South America. Between May and October ten of the world’s best cliff divers, from seven different countries, and up to four wildcard divers per stop will launch from 27 metres with no protection besides concentration, skill and physical control. courtesy of RedBull

They know it won't be easy, but New Zealand feel they have a chance. Talk to the New Zealand players and there's an undeniable sense that they feel they are within touching distance of what would be a notable test victory at Eden Park.

Herald cricket scribes David Leggat and Andrew Alderson give their expert opinion on the upcoming third test match between the Black Caps and England at Eden Park.

This is an amazing ride... Wyn Masters shreds down during his seeding run at the Lyttelton Urban down hill Course in Christchurch. With a special camera set up rigged and built by EIVOMEDIA. courtesy John Colthorpe/EIVOMEDIA

ShredWest Media is a Western Australia downhill skateboarding collective that hit the public roads of New Zealand in the Coromandel recently, providing a surprise to their follow road users.

A 1300km race around New Zealand involving two celebrity teams representing New Zealand and Australia. Over 5 days the teams will Run, Row, Cycle and Sail their way home with national pride at stake and charity the ultimate winner. With the finish line in sight the great Kiwi and Aussie public will join in for the final run to the finish. Their timed efforts over 5km and10km will determine if New Zealand wins

If New Zealand don't arrive at Eden Park on Friday morning full of self-belief something's seriously wrong. New Zealand were expected to be at least competitive, if not better, in the T20 and ODI series, and were so. England won the deciders both times, turning it on as New Zealand turned off on both occasions. The tests were different. Few gave New Zealand a chance over the course of the three tests. World no 2 vs world No 8, after all, albeit in the lower-ranked team's back yard.

Team New Zealand have damaged their wingsail - a hi-tech and expensive piece of machinery - in a dramatic launch incident in the Viaduct this afternoon. The incident occurred as the team were preparing to fit their wingsail to the platform of AC72 catamaran in gusty conditions. The 40m wing-sail needs to lifted into place by a crane - an extremely fraught process particularly when the wind picks up. It is believed the team lost control of the sail in the hoisting process, and the wing clipped the side of the main building of Emirates Team New Zealand's base. A spokesperson for Team New Zealand was not immediately available, but at this stage it is understood the damage is relatively minor.

Top Herald rugby scribes Wynne Gray and Gregor Paul discuss what teams are on form in the super 15 Tournament.

Waitakere United became the first club to win four ASB Premiership titles in a row after outgunning Super City rivals Auckland City 4-3 in Whenuapai. Courtesy: YouTube/WaitakereUnited