Paul Wiseman has been recruited as a guide on local conditions for the New Zealand cricket tour of England.

For more than 12 years, New Zealand test fans have watched Chris Martin bustle to the crease, splaying his arms for balance before looking over his left shoulder and firing 14,026 deliveries at opposition batsmen.

Dreadful news this week for those who savour public airings of other people's dirty laundry, ie, the vast majority of us: Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum will not be seeing John Parker in court after all.

The sideshow to the main event has ended, leaving omelette-faced ex-international John Parker in retreat mode, writes Dylan Cleaver.

Paul Lewis writes: The Ross Taylor captaincy saga seems to have descended into a farce.

The Canberra Raiders are hoping home ground advantage and the X-factor of a little known youngster will turn their NRL season fortunes around today against the Sydney Roosters.

It would be a huge stretch to call it a gasp of exasperation; maybe more a quiet exhalation, but New Zealand coach Mike Hesson yesterday briefly let his guard slip over the ongoing off-field drama surrounding his team.

Spinner Daniel Vettori has returned to the one-day side for the Black Caps after eight months out of international cricket with an ankle injury.

That's what happens when you sweep something under the carpet. It rarely disappears; it just gets bigger and bigger until you trip over it.

The loss of the captaincy can be directly linked to a slump in test batting form for Ross Taylor.

Someone once said that, when reading a newspaper, he always turned to the sports pages first, as there he found people's achievements - whereas the front page showcased only human failings.

An awkward moment preceded the final overs in New Zealand's third test draw against England. At 304 for eight, Jimmy Anderson offered a catch to Ross Taylor at first slip off Kane Williamson.

Ross Taylor is heading for a "please explain" meeting with New Zealand Cricket boss David White over comments about his axing as national captain by coach Mike Hesson.

As Kiwis were left commiserating over the Black Caps' draw against England last night, the Brits were waking up to the tale of a miracle that salvaged the series.

Former Black Caps skipper Ross Taylor has admitted that he is still not comfortable in the Black Caps team environment following New Zealand's dramatic draw with England.

The words of Shane Bond on Sunday night kept ringing in the ears.

New Zealand will awake this morning with the bitter taste of a job not completed at Eden Park.

New Zealand has fallen painfully short of winning the third cricket test - and the series - against England, despite a dramatic finish at Eden Park this afternoon.

New Zealand are within striking distance of a second home series victory in 18 attempts over England at stumps on the fourth day of the final test.

Napoleon Bonaparte once said "I make circumstances". Brendon McCullum mimicked him yesterday.

England rattled New Zealand's cage late in the day but New Zealand are in charge of the deciding test at Eden Park with two days remaining.