England may have brushed aside the New Zealanders 2-0 in the recent Test series but they know their opponents will provide a far stiffer challenge in the one-day format. During last winter’s tour the Kiwis beat England by a comfortable 3-1 when they enjoyed home advantage.

Friday’s Twenty20 slog at Old Trafford now gives way to a five-match series of 50-over games starting on Sunday at the Riverside, Chester-le-Street. This format of the shorter game almost feels old-fashioned after the lucrative razzmatazz of the Indian Premier League and Sir Allen Stanford’s £10m match next November between his Caribbean All Stars and England.