Three observations from the opening day of the first test between New Zealand and England.
1. The resilience of Joe Root and Ben Stokes
Their partnership took England from 30 for four to 191 for five after the mercury in the 'Bring Back KP' thermometer threatened to burst.
The pair played an array of controlled strokes, particularly through the legside, as they adjusted to the pace of the pitch and New Zealand's frenetic start.
Stokes demonstrated the capacity to punish, making 25 runs from two consecutive overs to go to 89.
Root benefited from playing late with soft hands, an example for his top order teammates to note.
READ MORE:
•
Black Caps let England 'off the hook'
•
As it happened: Re-live day one
2. How much did the IPL impact Trent Boult and Tim Southee?
The pair gave New Zealand such a strong start it seemed churlish to raise the question even as the Root/Stokes partnership built.
However, as the afternoon wore on, Boult and Southee struggled to reinforce their initial spells with as much fervour as the pitch flattened and the batsmen reveled in the sun.
In essence, it's too early to tell if Boult and Southee are genuinely affected but, on the upside, Matt Henry debuted strongly, taking three for 93 from 24 overs, and Mark Craig generated some early bounce and turn using the slope.
Follow Herald cricket reporter Andrew Alderson on Twitter
3. What is the effect of B-J Watling's injury?
Watling bruised his knee in the opening session and didn't feature in the remaining two sessions as he received RICE treatment. Tom Latham took the gloves in his absence.
The impact is two-fold. First, Watling is a batsman who has added so much to the middle order, including two world-record sixth-wicket partnerships. Potentially losing those runs, if he's unfit, could damage New Zealand's cause.
Second, how much will taking the gloves fatigue Latham? Or could it help him adjust to the slope, pace and bounce before he bats for the first time here in a test?
Curiously, Watling also suffered a knee injury in the last test at Lord's. Brendon McCullum took the gloves and Watling missed the second test.
OPINION: A prurient attitude to drug use does New Zealand no favours.