The Albany Gazette - New Zealand make England toil as Stokes returns for series decider

New Zealand were a commanding 213-0 at tea on Thursday's opening day in Nottingham.

Latham, making the most of winning a good toss in sweltering heat, was 109 not out with fellow left-hander Conway, closing in on three figures as well, unbeaten on 94.

Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson returned as two of four changes to the England team thrashed by 253 runs in the second Test at the Oval after being dropped for breaking a midnight curfew in an incident at a London nightclub celebrating the home side's win in the series opener at Lord's.

Atkinson was given the new ball but could not break through, while Latham edged express quick Jofra Archer through a gap in the slip cordon.

Recalled off-spinner Shoaib Bashir, who hadn't bowled in a Test in more than a year, came on in the 11th over -- unusually early for a slow bowler on the opening day of a Test match.

But he came closest to a wicket when Conway, on 18, was deceived by a well-flighted delivery and saw his miscued drive just evade a diving Joe Root at short extra-cover.

Latham, meanwhile clipped fast bowler Josh Tongue off his pads for four -- one of four boundaries in a 65-ball fifty

Stokes brought himself on, to warm applause and cheers from the crowd, for the 20th over, with New Zealand 64-0 but Conway drove the seamer's second ball for four.

At lunch, New Zealand were 108-0, with Latham 60 not out and Conway unbeaten on 45.

Latham had added just one run to his lunch score when he was rapped on the pads by Tongue, bowling from around the wicket. England's appeal for lbw was turned down and their review indicated the ball would have missed leg stump.

By contrast, Conway was on 71, with New Zealand 171-0, when Bashir did not appeal for lbw only for replays to suggest the batsman would have been out.

Latham, 34, then completed a 149-ball hundred with successive boundaries off Stokes -- a slashing cut followed by a leg-glance. It was his 17th century in 95 Tests.

Tongue was the pick of England's bowlers at tea with an economical return of 0-34 in 10 overs as Stokes tried to protect his quicks from the soaring temperatures by bowling them in relatively short spells.

New Zealand's start was all the more creditable given they suffered a double blow when Matt Henry (calf) and Glenn Phillips (side strain), fresh from an 11-wicket haul and a maiden Test century at the Oval respectively, both pulled out because of injury.

With towering fast bowler Kyle Jamieson also rested as a precaution, New Zealand were missing three key players.

(E.Taylor--TAG)