New Zealand cricket's wild child Jesse Ryder, seriously injured in a vicious assault this week, is a huge talent with the bat who struggles with alcohol demons and is a self-confessed bad boy. In a tumultuous international career marred by a string of disciplinary lapses, the powerful all-rounder averages 40.93 in 18 Tests but last year went into self-imposed exile to sort out his "personal issues". The 28-year-old, who continues to catch the eye in domestic competition, has rejected all overtures to return to the New Zealand team, despite public clamour for his recall.

Black Caps opener Peter Fulton celebrated his recall from the cricket scrapheap on Monday by becoming only the fourth New Zealander to score back-to-back centuries in a Test. The at times ungainly opener belted the prime of English bowling to all corners of the ground in a rollicking second innings 110 to give New Zealand a stranglehold on the third and deciding Test in the series. At stumps on Monday, with one day to play, England were fighting for survival at 90 for four with a target of 481 to win.

Two crucial wickets to part-time spinner Kane Williamson put New Zealand firmly in charge of the final Test on Monday as England, facing a world record target of 481, slumped to 90 for four at stumps. On a day that belonged to the Black Caps, with recalled batsman Peter Fulton blasting his second century of the match, England made a disastrous start to the daunting run chase on a turning Eden Park wicket. By the close of play they were batting for survival with any hope of an unlikely victory long gone, and even a draw looking improbable.

New Zealand and England face off in a winner-takes-all third and final Test this week, with both sides vowing to press for a series-clinching victory at Auckland's Eden Park. After rain-affected draws in Dunedin and Wellington, hopes are high for a result in the match beginning Friday, as New Zealand eye a rare series win and England seek to cement their position as the number-two ranked Test nation.