England look to get Bazball back on track against buoyant Black Caps

England head to New Zealand for the second time under locally-born captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum looking to revive the momentum of Bazball against a Blacks Caps side still revelling in a remarkable series triumph in India.

The rapid early progress England enjoyed playing McCullum's ultra-aggressive style has stalled somewhat with seven test wins and seven losses this year and they are already out of the running for next year's World Test Championship (WTC) final.

New Zealand's stunning 3-0 sweep put England's 4-1 reverse in India earlier this year into an unflattering perspective and, after a 2-1 loss in Pakistan in October, the tourists will be keen for a good showing in more hospitable conditions.

"I wouldn't say Pakistan rocked our confidence as such, but it definitely hurt," former Black Caps captain McCullum said this week.

"When I talk to the lads, I say you need a memory like a sieve as a cricketer. You need what's gone before to wash over you and focus on the here and now, to make sure you're totally present. That gives you the best opportunity."

The opportunity against New Zealand starts at Christchurch's Hagley Oval on Thursday before further tests at equally salubrious seam-friendly venues in Wellington and Hamilton.

The last series between the teams early last year was drawn 1-1 but only after New Zealand had mounted a remarkable comeback to win the second test in Wellington by a single run after following-on.

The spirit that fired that victory also underpinned the unlikely series triumph in India, a feat all the more impressive for that it was achieved without master batsman Kane Williamson.

"It's always onto the next little challenge," all-rounder Rachin Ravindra said on Monday.

"We soaked it