Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport chief cricket writer in Mount Maunganui

There aren't many better spots to watch cricket than Mount Maunganui. The town itself is a lovely holiday destination, with a sweeping beach watched over by the Mount. The ground is typical of this part of the world, with spectators taking their place on the grass bank. Cyclone Gabrielle largely passed us by and the pitch is a lot less green than this time yesterday. The toss? England like chasing, so that is taken out of their hands. The last time they played a day-nighter in this country, they batted first and were 27-9.

Image source, Getty Images

There is always something special when these two teams meet these days.

The captains, Ben Stokes and Tim Southee, did their pre-match photoshoot at the beach this week.

Things have changed a little with the Black Caps since England last face them, back at the start of the Bazball regime.

Kane Williamson is no longer skipper and Trent Boult has stepped aside to focus on the franchise world.

England captain Ben Stokes: "It was good to lose the toss because I didn't know what I was going to do. I would've gone with what first came into my head.

"We'll soon see if there is anything in the pitch. It's been undercover for a while but I've got confidence that we can go out there and put on a show.

"Robbo, Jimmy and Broady being the main three with me popping in and out every now and again. We've had that same consistency throughout.

"It's pretty similar conditions to in England so hopefully we can perform as well as we did last summer over there.

"The expectation we have is what we put on our own shoulders in the dressing room to stay loyal to the process that we've been going about for the last 10 games.

"We try not to look too far and not look at the result too much, just try to stick to the process as long as we can."

New Zealand captain Tim Southee: "We're going to have a bowl, it's obviously browned off a lot since yesterday and I'm sure it'll be a pretty good surface.

"It's one of those tosses where I don't think it matters much either way. The groundsmen have done a great job to get it ready with the weather that's been around.

"It's usually a good pitch here so hopefully we can make the most of it early on.

"Great day for Scott Kuggeleijn and Blair Tickner, a proud moment for them and the people who have been with them on their journey as well. It'll be nice for them to get into the game.

"There are always nerves the first morning of a Test match but first Test of the series, looking forward to it."

New Zealand XI: Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wk), Michael Bracewell, Scott Kuggeleijn, Tim Southee (capt), Neil Wagner, Blair Tickner

England XI: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Ben Foakes (wk), Stuart Broad, Jack Leach, Ollie Robinson, James Anderson.

Ben Stokes says he's happy he's lost the toss because he couldn't decide what to do anyway.

We already know the England team - they named it a couple of days ago.

Stuart Broad is back.

First things first New Zealand have won the toss.

They fancy a bowl first with the pink ball on a green-looking pitch.

Image source, Getty Images

Hello. Thousands of miles from home, on the other side of the world, England's men's Test side are about to begin the biggest of years.

In four months time the Australians are in town.

For now though the focus is New Zealand and the chance to keep the winning run going?

Can Bazball continue to thrill in the country of its birth?

Image source, Getty Images

2023 starts here.