Neil Elson: They continue to play at this awful place rather than the excellent Basin Reserve apparently because of concerns on crowd capacity. Only outdone by Eden Park as worst NZ ground.

Image source, Getty Images

New Zealand's slight issue here is that there back-up pace bowling is limited. Colin de Granhomme averages more than 53 with his dobbers. He'll probably take six-fer now I've said that. Bairstow has to hurry to complete a single, but the throw from point hits the batsman as he hurries to the non-striker's end.

Jeremy Coney
Ex-New Zealand captain on Test Match Special

Kane Williamson's had injuries to that right hand, and it was well hit from Joe Root.

Root dropped on 9published at 11 overs

11 overs

Eng 40-1

Down! Left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner almost gets a wicket in his first over, with Joe Root getting a life. It was an awful delivery from Santner, a rank long hop. Root doesn't know whether to hit it for four or six. The pull shot goes towards Kane Williamson at short mid-wicket, the skipper awkwardly throwing his left hand above his right shoulder. Only one hand on the ball, leather hits the turf.

Trent Boult could get a role in Peaky Blinders. Black hair shaved on the sides, combed backwards on top, bouncing as he runs in. Left-arm round the wicket to Root, back over to Bairstow, who drives down the ground for a couple. 10 overs done, powerplay completed. Expect some spin...

Image source, Getty Images

Jeremy Coney
Ex-New Zealand captain on Test Match Special

Joe Root has started well here. A case of hashtag ominous! New Zealand's bowlers have to rely on the natural variation on the pitch and not try to bowl too many bouncers at Joe Root.

As usual, Jeremy Coney is right. The variable bounce has mainly been caused by Trent Boult. Tim Southee's weapon has been swing. Southee, though, gets carried away with bouncing Joe Root and pays by being hooked for four.

Jeremy Coney
Ex-New Zealand captain on Test Match Special

England have actually done OK, most of the variable bounce has been at one end. It's a most unusual pitch. I don't think I've seen one like it really. There are little islands of grass on the pitch which are hairy.

It's the sort of dismissal that sends tremors through a batting dressing room. The departing Roy had a long look at the pitch, then examined the shoulder of his bat. Joe Root is the new man - England's best player arriving on what we think might be a snake pit.

James Taylor
Ex-England batsman on Test Match Special

Trent Boult is more of a skiddier bowler so it's all happening at his end. A very smart catch from Martin Guptill in the slips and well deserved wicket for Boult. It was a testing period for Jason Roy and it got the shoulder of his bat, but there's no shame in getting out to that delivery. New Zealand definitely deserved that.

Image source, Getty Images

Just quietly, carefully, England are making steady progress at the start of this innings. It's not crash, bang, or wallop, but a lot of tip and run, or proper cricket strokes. There's noise from the meagre crowd - whistles and claps. Only three boundaries in these first seven overs.

James Taylor
Ex-England batsman on Test Match Special

Credit to the way Trent Boult and Tim Southee have bowled in tandem. No bowler has taken more wickets in the first 10 overs in world cricket than Trent Boult. But at least England's openers have not let New Zealand have it all their own way.

Image source, get

Interesting choice of between-overs music from the DJ. The Sound of Silence. Not the Simon and Garfunkel version, but the cover by Disturbed. I quite liked Disturbed when I was a teenager. Very heavy metal. Excellent running by Bairstow, pinching two when he cuts Boult to third man. If you're struggling to middle it, run hard.

James Taylor
Ex-England batsman on Test Match Special

It is tough for the batsmen to get their head around the surface. You have to try to take that out of your mind. Jonny Bairstow has not quite got to grips with it so it will be a relief to get off the mark. This is Brendon McCullum aggressive style captaincy from Kane Williamson so why not get that third slip in and put the pressure on

It's a struggle for Jonny Bairstow. Tim Southee pins him on the thigh pad and wicketkeeper Tom Latham takes the catch. Appeal rightly turned down. Two more dots - 11 balls on nought. Finally he's away with a drive on the up through the covers for four. The Kiwis don't mind seeing that, three slips still in place. It's like watching an old-school one-one-dayer.

Biffage. Jason Roy won't wait for the one with his name on it. When Boult is fractionally short, the Surrey man snaps into a pull shot that rattles the mid-wicket fence. After that, a very full slower delivery is miscued over the covers for another boundary.