New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White said Chris Martin had made an outstanding contribution to the Black Caps. New Zealand paceman Chris Martin has announced his retirement from all first-class cricket with immediate effect.

Electing to bat, India were 323 for four at stumps on the first day of their opening Test of the four-match series against England on Thursday.

India tightened the noose around New Zealand on Day 3 of the opening Test in Hyderabad on Friday but rain forced an early end to proceedings here. A statistical look at the day's play which finished with the visitors trailing by 238, after being asked to follow on.

New Zealand seized control of the first Test against South Africa on Wednesday thanks to a stunning spell of three wickets in four balls from paceman Chris Martin.

Chris Martin, who claimed career-best figures of 6 for 26 against Zimbabwe in Napier, has said New Zealand's success in the Test had much to do with a four-pronged pace attack.

New Zealand posted their biggest winning Test margin when they demolished Zimbabwe by an innings and 301 runs on the third day of their one-off Test at Napier's McLean Park on Saturday.

New Zealand find themselves in an unexpectedly commanding position following an eventful second day of the second Test, in which Australia's batsmen failed utterly to cope with a difficult though not unplayable Hobart pitch.

New Zealand paceman Chris Martin on Monday expressed confidence of doing well in the Champions League Twenty20 tournament with the qualifiers starting here on September 19.

The Auckland Aces skipper Gareth Hopkins is confident that senior pacers Daryl Tuffey and Chris Martin will recover in time before the start of their Champions League T20 campaign that starts next week.

Placid wickets dished out for the first two cricket Tests against New Zealand have put the spotlight back on India's waning home advantage.