Well, with 6 hours to go, I think it's time to do something novel: make so many fairly random predictions, the odd one's bound to be wrong... so here we are.
I reckon the match will have a result.
I reckon Kyle Mills won't break-down after 6 overs the way he did the last time he played England (and the first time he played anyone) at Test level.
I reckon Ryan Sidebottom, provided he doesn't bowl like he's obviously short of fitness, will take at least 6 wickets in the match.
I reckon Brendon McCullum will score whatever runs he scores at a very considerable strike-rate - maybe even close to or over a-run-a-ball.
I reckon Ross Taylor, if he plays ahead of Peter Fulton (which he shouldn't), won't score very many.
I reckon Kyle Mills' first (proper) and Mathew Sinclair's first meeting with England will produce interesting results, whether of the outstanding or abysmal variety.
If the pitch turns as some seem to think it will, I reckon Vettori and MSP will swarm all over their respective oppositions.
On another note, how few games New Zealand have played of late truly is astonishing.
In the last 2 years, they've played 7 Tests against genuine opposition, and 5 of those have been in South Africa too. On that same note, how interesting to see the tiny number of games those in the England squad have played in New Zealand:
Ambrose: had played 4 domestic games at the time of the 2001\02 tour.
Anderson: had yet to make his domestic debut at the time of the 2001\02 tour.
Bell: was actually called-up as emergency cover for the 2001\02 tour... after a whole 1 full season.
Broad: was still 4 seasons away from becoming a domestic regular at the time of the 2001\02 tour.
Collingwood: was still 2 seasons away from making his Test debut at the time of the 2001\02 tour, though did play (with no success whatsoever) in the ODIs.
Cook: was still 2 seasons away from making his domestic debut at the time of the 2001\02 tour.
Harmison: made his Test debut the summer after the 2001\02 tour.
Hoggard: was a fledgling bowler on the 2001\02 tour, but did put in a terrific performance in the first-innings at Jade Stadium of course. Possibly still the best of his career.
Mustard: at the time of the 2001\02 tour had still 3 seasons before he became a regular at domestic level.
Panesar: was still at university at the time of the 2001\02 tour, and didn't finish until 4 seasons after it.
Pietersen: didn't qualify for England for another 3 years at the time of the 2001\02 tour.
Shah: still 4 seasons away from his Test debut at the time of the 2001\02 tour, though did play (like Collingwood with little success) in the ODIs.
Sidebottom: had played his 1 previous Test the summer before the 2001\02 tour, and didn't look likely to play again any time soon.
Strauss: was still 2-and-a-half seasons away from his Test debut at the time of the 2001\02 tour, and don't think he'd even played for England A.
Swann: was wallowing in the wilderness at the time of the 2001\02 tour, having played 2 seasons earlier and been cast aside. Didn't play again until 6 years later.
Vaughan: 3 Tests (out of position, like now
) on the 2001\02 tour.
Looking at the squad from the 2001\02 tour:
Afzaal - should never have been anywhere near a Test squad.
Butcher - still playing, but long since out of the Test picture.
Caddick - still playing, but long since out of the Test picture, and perhaps he shouldn't be.
Dawson - read Afzaal.
Flintoff - wasn't a Test-class cricketer at that time, though New Zealand's abysmal bowling did on a that one occasion make him look like one. Is now, though, and should be on this tour.
Foster - basically read Flintoff.
Giles - just retired.
Hegg - never more than a reserve, now retired.
Hussain - now retired.
Hoggard - see above.
Ormond - read Afzaal\Dawson.
Ramprakash - read Caddick.
Thorpe - now retired.
Trescothick - read last part of Flintoff.
White - read Butcher.