How is he so good on it?!

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Weather watchpublished at 21:54 Greenwich Mean Time 20 November 2019

21:54 GMT 20 November 2019

Good news!

Toby Wood: Overseas Test cricket with BBC TMS - a great way to brighten a grey English November. Come on Burnsy, Sibleyy, Joe Denlyy, Joe Rooty, Stokesy, Popey, Buttlery, Currany, Archery, Leachy and Broady

The match ball has just been delivered by a hang glider.

There's also a climbing wall in the crowd for people to have a go on. I love New Zealand.

Mark Ramprakash
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

These are definitely conditions where you'll feel if you get past the new ball, then you have the opportunity to set your stall out. There's been a lot of talk about England's approach and batting time, which is very different to when I was in the England camp 12 months ago.

Today is an opportunity I think, where the traditional values. dare I say it, of playing the ball on its merit and getting past the first hour may come to the forefront.

You can catch up with all the action from New Zealand with the TMS podcast here.

There's also a new Tailenders podcast to download, with the fellas celebrating their second birthday...

Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent

We won't see Stuart Broad today!

Jofra's been preparing for this Test this morning by whizzing around the ground on a segway.

My actual hero.

Image source, Getty Images

Ben Howard: Yes, Joe Root. That's a confident decision to bat first. A new dawn for English cricket starts today...let’s hope it’s a good’un!

Dom Sibley was handed his Test cap by Michael Atherton a little earlier today.

Have a read of this to find out more about England's new boy.

Steven Finn
England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

It's a great time to start the new tactics. They're coming up against a very talented New Zealand bowling attack but we're not expecting excessive swing or nip but if there is any, this attack will find it.

It's a good challenge for the top order. We might see a more reserved start but that should help the middle and lower order cash in on this wicket.

England: Rory Burns, Dom Sibley, Joe Denly, Joe Root (capt), Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope, Jos Buttler (wkt), Sam Curran, Jofra Archer, Jack Leach, Stuart Broad.

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

Umpires: Kumar Dharmasena, Bruce Oxenford TV umpire: Paul Wilson

There's a bit of green on the pitch but this series is being played with a Kookaburra ball, and they've barely swung in the warm-ups.

Sound the big first hour cliche klaxon...

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson: "We were going to have a bat as well. It looks a good surface, a few unknowns, in terms of the first game here and how it may age. It's important first up to get a bit of swing and something out of the surface."

Kane Williamson is sporting a magnificent beard.

England captain Joe Root: "We're going to bat. It's changed a lot since we got here. It's browned off quite nicely and looks to be a good wicket. Hopefully we get through the first hour or so and build a good platform."

England were bowled out for 58 on the first day of their previous Test series in New Zealand.

So, you know. Let's aim big.

...and it is a head!

England will have a bat first.

Shall we have a toss?

The ground looks an absolute picture. Kane Williamson throws the coin, Joe Root calls heads...

We already know a bit about the teams - Dom Sibley will make his debut for England, while Sam Curran has been chosen ahead of Chris Woakes and Ollie Pope has been recalled.

Speedster Lockie Ferguson will have to wait for his New Zealand debut. The Black Caps have got their usual formidable line up of Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Neil Wagner.