England is in a ‘‘right two and six''.
That's cockney rhyming slang for a right fix, and it is appropriate when a side has been dismissed for a woeful 131.
The New Zealand Invitation XI dominated day one of the three-day first-class match at the University Oval yesterday, reaching 177 for four by stumps.
Central Districts captain Jamie How gave the national selectors something to smile about by scoring 65 and has surely firmed as the favourite to partner Matthew Bell when the first test gets under way in Hamilton next week.
The pair put on 98 for the opening partnership and How, in particular, looked most assured against the likes of Matthew Hoggard, Stephen Harmison and Chris Tremlett.
It was a much-needed confidence boost ahead of the three-match test series. Just two days earlier the heart of New Zealand's top order crumpled like a cheap deck chair under a fat man during a two-day warm-up game against the tourists at the same venue.
But, if yesterday's results are anything to go by, the tourists need to make some running repairs.
To be fair, England was put in on a lively wicket, which had been under coconut matting during the two day warm-up match. And it offered Iain O'Brien and Mark Gillespie plenty of assistance early.
England captain Michael Vaughan got a brute of a ball from O'Brien, which jagged back and took the inside edge on its way through to the wicketkeeper. His stay lasted just two balls but the rest had more time to assess the conditions and bat accordingly.
From a team used to batting on the varying pitches offered up in County cricket, it was surprising to see so many in the top six nick out after lurching on to the front foot in search of a boundary through the covers.
Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood all perished in remarkably similar fashion. It was a bit like Groundhog Day. Pietersen, who was dropped before he had scored, threatened to resurrect the innings with his innings of 50.
The South African-born strokemaker has a dominating presence and nonchalantly shuffles around the crease, looking for ways to get on top of the bowling.
But one could sense the frustration settling into his game. His timing was off and shortly after he pulled Mark Orchard for four to raise his half-century, he was lured into a drive and got a faint edge.
O'Brien did not do his selection chances any harm, taking four for 34 from 12 overs and outshining Wellington team-mate and test rival Mark Gillespie.
Gillespie mopped up the tail to finish with three for 62, but it was far from a polished performance.
Fellow Wellingtonian Grant Elliott gave a good account of himself, taking two for 12 in a tidy eight-over spell.
While there was good news for the selectors with both Bell and How getting among the runs, Fulton was undone on 23 when Collingwood trapped him in front and Ross Taylor hardly impressed with eight runs.
Sinclair (14) and Elliott (13) will resume today.
