Anderson's grimace, Pietersen's fumble

England's quick bowlers showed the strain on the fourth morning, none more so than James Anderson who had needed treatment the previous day for a stiff back. He did not take much part in the warm-ups before play and, straight after his first delivery, showed his discomfort as he walked back to the mark. His movement started to look a little better the more he bowled and the wicket of Peter Fulton improved his mood - for a short time.

When a batsman is on a pair it is important to keep him sweating as long as possible. For Ross Taylor it was even worse. He was on a king pair. He safely negotiated his first ball, but that first run of the match would still have been playing on his mind. It wouldn't have escaped Anderson's notice, either, so when Taylor defended a delivery solidly towards mid-on, it was no surprise that the fast bowler was far from amused by Kevin Pietersen's rather limp attempt to get behind the ball which bobbled under him and allowed Taylor to open his account.

Monty Panesar was causing some problems from the footmarks, getting the occasional delivery to turn and bounce. Kane Williamson, though, played him confidently by getting well forward to defend and thrust his pad at ones pitching outside leg stump. Neither did he miss the chance to score. When Panesar dragged one a touch short Williamson waited a fraction longer and whipped it through midwicket at the top of the bounce. Classy.

The rain held off until lunch and, very kindly, was clearing just as the interval was ending. Play was due to resume at 1.30pm but, as so often, during that period when the ground was ready and everyone was waiting the clouds built up again behind the pavilion. Then, right on cue, just as the umpires Rod Tucker and Asad Rauf emerged onto the field the rain started to fall again and the players headed back into the dressing rooms. It happened again, shortly after tea, when the stumps were back in. It was one of those days.