Thursday 22 March 2018 23:50, UK
England head coach Trevor Bayliss says his team were "rabbits in headlights" when faced with the swinging ball in Auckland on Thursday.
The tourists made a disastrous start to the first of two Tests in New Zealand, skittled out for just 58 within the first 90 minutes of play, as seamers Trent Boult and Tim Southee ran riot.
With captain Kane Williamson (91 not out) to the fore, New Zealand then reached 175-3, leaving England in huge trouble after just one day of action.
Bayliss told Sky Sports: "We certainly did not bat very well this morning. They bowled extremely well but we batted extremely poorly.
"I think it must have been a mental thing, our feet looked like they had lead in them. We didn't make too many right decision with our footwork.
"We got caught behind the crease to fairly full balls, which allows the ball to swing and then we were nowhere. It looked a little bit like we were rabbits in the headlights."
England's preparation is sure to come under the spotlight, the team having played two short warm-up games against a New Zealand XI.
"Those practice games are always a bit difficult sometimes," said Bayliss.
"It doesn't matter how hard you try and play the game, there is always that lack of intensity there.
"It is very difficult to copy the intensity of a Test match. First match we were very rusty, second match we played a lot better."
While players such as captain Joe Root have been busy playing white-ball cricket since the Ashes defeat, Test specialists like former skipper Alastair Cook returned home after the 4-0 loss to Australia.
Asked if that was good preparation, Bayliss said: "No it's not but what is the answer?
"We tried to give them a rest when it is possible - there is no cricket on in England over Christmas, so what do you do?
"They have been working hard in the nets and in the practice game.We were off a long way today and it just wasn't good enough."
