It would be wrong to say that Kane Williamson looked like a guy making up for lost time on day one in Christchurch, so unhurried was the way he compiled 93 runs. And given his famous ego-free outlook, claiming it was driven by some kind of inner turmoil about missing New Zealand’s historic win in India would be a stretch too.

But given his return from a groin injury for this series opener against England nudged out Will Young – player of the series in that 3-0 triumph – it was still a timely performance. Not that anyone in New Zealand was seriously quibbling, with Williamson the country’s record run-scorer. Judging by Young’s relaxed demeanour at training during the buildup, that one-in-all-in New Zealand spirit is very real.

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