England's "Bazball" revolution continued apace when the tourists wrapped up a thumping 267-run victory over New Zealand in the first test on Sunday with the best part of two days to spare at Bay Oval.
It was a first test victory for England in New Zealand since 2008 and a 10th win in 11 matches since former Black Caps skipper Brendon "Baz" McCullum and Christchurch-born Ben Stokes took over as coach and captain.
The Black caps were perhaps still shell-shocked after Stuart Broad's brilliant spell with the pink ball on Saturday evening and only Daryl Mitchell offered any real resistance as they slumped to 126 all out in the opening session of the fourth day.
Broad (4-49) laboured in vain on Sunday to get his 20th five-wicket haul in tests, but his strike partner James Anderson (4-18) stepped up to lead the mopping up of the New Zealand tail.
The pair on Saturday supplanted Australia's Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne as the most prolific test bowling partnership and now have a combined 1,009 wickets from 113 matches together.
World test champions New Zealand had resumed on 63-5 with the mammoth task of chasing down 394 for victory, but England quickly resumed their dominance of the previous evening.
Michael Bracewell (25), Scott Kuggeleijn, Tim Southee and Neil Wagner departed so swiftly that it looked like the victory would be wrapped up inside an hour.
Anderson had dismissed Kuggeleijn for two and New Zealand skipper Southee for a golden duck with successive deliveries but Mitchell fended away the hat-trick ball and proceeded to stall the rout for nearly an hour with an unbeaten 57.
ENGLAND STRATEGY
England's strategy of batting aggressively during the day and doing their best to expose New Zealand's top order to the vagaries of the evening sessions paid huge dividends.
Stokes declared on 325-9 after England were sent in to bat on day one and although New Zealand responded with a first-innings tally of 306, the tourists always appeared to be in control of the game.
After another "Bazball" onslaught at the start of day three, the England batsmen slowed the pace to extend the innings and ensure New Zealand started their second knock under the floodlights.
England's 374 gave them a healthy lead but they barely needed it as Broad bowled Devon Conway, Kane Williamson and Tom Latham through the gate in short order before returning to remove first innings centurion Tom Blundell in the same style.
Promising young England batsman Harry Brook was named Man of the Match for his half centuries in each innings.
New Zealand have lost or drawn their last five test series and now need to win the second test in Wellington, which will start on Friday, to save this series.
WHAT. A. TEAM.
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) February 19, 2023
🇳🇿 #NZvENG 🏴 pic.twitter.com/jnjODgwpkU
Liverpool's slim title hopes fade further with 2-2 draw at West Ham
Deal agreed for new Liverpool manager
Leicester promoted back to Premier League
Greece hand over Olympic flame to France
Nadal wishes he could play long enough for his son to remember him on court
