Ronchi sparks Black Caps fightback

Former Australia batsman Luke Ronchi marked his Test debut with a quickfire 88 as New Zealand fought back on the first day at Headingley after James Anderson became the first England bowler to take 400 Test wickets.

New Zealand, after being sent into bat by England captain Alastair Cook following a washed-out morning session on Friday, slumped to two for two.

But a sixth-wicket stand of 120 between opener Tom Latham, dropped four times on his way to 84, and the dashing Ronchi helped New Zealand recover to 8-297 at stumps.

"I was trying to enjoy it as much as I could," said the 34-year-old Ronchi, who was drafted in as a replacement for injured allrounder Corey Anderson.

"It could be my one and only Test - I'd have hated to go out there and not play my natural game.

"I can't complain with 88, I'm more than happy with that, although you always want more."

Anderson struck twice in three balls to remove both opener Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson for ducks.

He told Sky Sports: "It was a nice moment for me, and nice to get it early on in the game.

"We've got a lot of hard work to do here but I can put my feet up and enjoy it at the end of this game."

The Lancashire swing bowler needed just eight balls Friday to become just the 12th bowler overall to take 400 Test wickets, reaching the landmark with a classic delivery that took Guptill's outside edge and was well caught, above his head, by second slip Ian Bell.

No sooner had Anderson struck then rain forced a 10-minute stoppage.

But when play resumed, Anderson quickly had his 401st Test wicket.

Williamson, who scored a century at Lord's, fell second ball Friday when edging Anderson to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler.

Ross Taylor (20) played no stroke to a Stuart Broad delivery that cut back and was lbw.

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum (41) was out to the first ball after tea when he drove Stokes straight to Mark Wood at mid-off.

Ronchi, New Zealand's wicketkeeper during their run to this year's Wold Cup final and a former Australia limited overs international, having grown up in Perth, went in at 5-144.

The 34-year-old, brought in because BJ Watling's knee injury prevented him keeping wicket, showed few nerves as he raced to fifty off just 37 balls, including eight fours and two sixes.

His 70-ball knock, including 13 fours and three sixes, ended when Broad, from around the wicket, had him hooking straight to Anderson at fine leg.

Latham had an lbw decision overturned when on 71 and, one run later, was twice dropped in two balls by Wood at square leg and Gary Ballance at leg-slip.

He was dropped for the third time in six balls faced when, on 76, he edged Broad only for a diving Cook at first slip to floor the two-handed chance.

Latham's luck ran out when he was caught at first slip by Root off Broad.