Here we go then. With very few people in the stands here come the New Zealand players, led by the ginger-bearded Kane Williamson.

Trent Boult has the pink ball in hand. Mark Stoneman and Alastair Cook punch gloves on their way to the middle.

If you're just joining us the headlines are England are batting at the request of New Zealand and Joe Root is batting at number three for England. James Vince has been jettisoned. Let me know your thoughts on that.

Play.

This series also sees Joe Root come up against another of the 'Big Four'. After being outbatted by Virat Kohli and Steve Smith in recent series, how will he fare against Williamson?

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

So what of New Zealand? They will surely be no pushovers.

Many of you won't need me to explain the match-winning potential of bowlers Tim Southee and Trent Boult and their key batsmen, Ross Taylor and captain Kane Williamson.

The Black Caps are ranked higher in the ICC Test rankings than England - fourth compared to fifth - despite only playing two Tests since March 2017.

They have won three of their last four series and have home seven series at home since England last toured in 2013.

Jeremy Coney
Ex-New Zealand captain on Test Match Special

Joe Root at number three? If he doesn't score runs here will he go back to four? He could prevent a crisis if an early wicket goes down. I think it's a good move personally.

It is an interesting move by England to select Craig Overton. Like Swanny, I would have liked Mark Wood to have play but the England coaching staff know far more than me.

Moeen Ali is also a little fortunate - at least there is no more talk about his position in his side after a poor Ashes series. He wins his 50th cap today.

Image source, Getty Images

Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

Surely you want someone who can bowl pace and heat like Mark Wood. He has that extra 10mph up his sleeve. I have nothing against Craig Overton but he doesn't offer much more than England's other seam bowlers.

Image source, Getty Images

There is a bit of rain forecast for this Test but it's a belter of a day at the moment in Auckland.

The sun is out and there's hardly a cloud in the sky.

The big Eden Park stands are pretty empty as it stands. This game is being played at a rugby ground remember and it will be interesting to see whether the locals turn up as we get later on into the afternoon and evening of this day-night Test.

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Radio 5 live

A lot of players have a point to prove: opener Mark Stoneman, Ben Stokes after all that has happened, Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes' record overseas.

Stuart Broad has been at home since the Ashes and stripped his action right down and has gone back to basics. It looks to me like he is getting the wrist behind the ball and shaping it away form the right-hander.

This is a lesson to everyone - a player on 399 Test wickets, doing that to get his form back.

Image source, Getty Images

This two-match series may have crept under the radar after all of the big noise of an Ashes series but it really does matter to this England team.

Their difficulty overseas has been well documented. England have failed to win any of their last 11 Tests away from home - their last win coming against Bangladesh in October 2016.

There are also questions throughout the team. Is this series the last chance for Mark Stoneman? Is Moeen Ali the best spinner? Is Stuart Broad past his best? Can England find a pace bowler? They are just some of the issues that will be discussed over these two matches.

Jonathan Agnew says England have a bagful of points to prove in the series. Read more from Aggers here.

New Zealand: Tom Latham, Jeet Raval, Kane Williamson (capt), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling (wk), Colin de Grandhomme, Todd Astle, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult.

England: Mark Stoneman, Alastair Cook, Joe Root (capt), Dawid Malan, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Craig Overton, Stuart Broad, James Anderson.

Umpires: Bruce Oxenford, Paul Reiffel

TV umpire: Marais Erasmus; match referee: Sir Richie Richardson.

Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

James Vince will be very worried. After a couple of great knocks in Australia without getting a big score, he's not going to get a chance in a cash-in game.

Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent on Test Match Special

That has taken a lot of persuasion. Joe Root does not want to bat at three, so that says two thing: Vince's time has run out, and there is a little unease about Stokes' fitness.

So Joe Root hasn't really confirmed there whether Stokes is fit enough to bowl or not.

The will-he-won't-he drama of Root's batting position has taken another swing. He moves up to three like many people have said he should, but that could just because Craig Overton plays to cover the overs Stokes may not be able to bowl.

Plenty to ponder.

England captain Joe Root: "The pitch might have a little bit of life in it for the first couple of hours. We're lucky to have options in terms of bowling.

"Ben is a day-by-day process and I'm going to have to keep monitoring him. He's going to bat at five."

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson: "We feel that the pitch won't deteriorate too much throughout the match.

"There hasn't been too much pink-ball cricket."

New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson wins the toss and elects to bowl.

Joe Root is pretty happy and says he would have liked to have bat anyway. He confirms he will bat at three.

Image source, Getty Images

I've mentioned this is pretty much the same team for England but there is some big news from Auckland.

James Vince has been dropped by England with Ben Stokes returning in the middle order.

Joe Root is going to bat at number three and Craig Overton plays.

There is talk that Stokes is not fit enough to bowl. Hopefully Root will clear that up at the toss, which is coming up any second.

Image source, Getty Images

Hello there!

The white-ball stuff has been good but it's time for the one that has brought the biggest joy but also caused the worst pain over the years.

After the drubbing in Australia, England's Test team are back for this mini Test series against New Zealand.

We're all set for the first Test from Eden Park in Auckland - the first day-night Test in New Zealand - so get those snacks out, the coffee poured and be ready to completely ruin your sleeping pattern again.

We occasionally moan but we wouldn't have it any other way.

It's back.

73 days - or 104,950 minutes give or take - since the final wicket of England's Ashes defeat, the Test team are back in action.

It's time to leave that hammering behind.

This is a new era for England.

... with pretty much the same team.