Cricket: England hit out at lifeless Test pitches
Frustrated England have taken a swipe at the docile pitches used for the first two Tests in New Zealand.
A draw looms in the the second Test at Wellington going into the final day on Monday, which would match the result of the series opener in Dunedin.
Just 35 overs were possible on the fourth day due to rain as New Zealand reached 2-162.
They trail by 49 runs after following on, with Kane Williamson (55) and Ross Taylor (41) having shared an unbroken third-wicket stand of 81.
The likelihood of more rain, allied with the dead nature of the wicket means England will struggle to capitalise on their dominance, leaving the series locked at 0-0 going into a decider at Auckland's Eden Park starting on Friday.
The lifeless Basin Reserve track drew the ire of England bowling coach David Saker, who said it mirrored Dunedin's University Oval for its lack of assistance to the bowlers.
"For the spectacle of Test cricket, this isn't the greatest way," he said.
"Anyone watching the game wants to see the ball bounce through and sometimes it's a bit frustrating for the spectators."
"You have to mainly prepare for batsman error - and you have to be really patient with where you bowl and hope to build enough pressure so that he does make that mistake."
Saker said the Twenty20 and one-day international series between the teams last month were played on pitches with ample carry.
He wasn't sure if New Zealand Cricket had ordered the pitches be slowed down for the Tests or if it was the nature of the wicket blocks.
Either way, he believed the respective merits of world No.2 ranked Test nation England and No.8 New Zealand had been levelled out.
"This makes it really hard for both batsmen to score and bowlers to prise their wickets out."
Three of the last four Tests at University Oval have been drawn while the Basin Reserve is poised to host a third straight stalemate.
There has been a result in the last six Tests at Eden Park, the most recent of which was seven years ago.
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