Butler made an early impact on the game

England went into the match with six specialist batsmen as Mark Ramprakash was preferred to all-rounder Craig White.

Their worst fears were realised at the start of play, however, as Chris Cairns snapped up two wickets after Fleming won the toss and elected to give his bowlers first use of a green strip.

Marcus Trescothick and Mark Butcher both went for ducks in the opening over and Cairns also accounted for Michael Vaughan, who was caught behind for a well-played 27 including two sixes, in his initial spell.

He was not the same threat thereafter as a back problem hampered his mobility and the Kiwis were forced to rely on the accuracy and persistence of Chris Drum and Nathan Astle as newcomer Ian Butler proved expensive.

England were 89 for four at lunch after Graham Thorpe (17) gave away his wicket with a wild drive to ball wide of off stump.

Consolidation

Hussain was quick to latch onto anything short

Hussain found a reliable ally in Ramprakash as they added 56 for the fifth wicket before they were separated by a poor umpiring decision.

Sri Lankan Asoka de Silva made an error when he adjudged Ramprakash caught behind for 31 as TV replays clearly showed the ball deflected off the Surrey batsman's thigh.

Andrew Flintoff and Andrew Caddick made nought and Ashley Giles became Butler's first Test victim when he slashed to third man, but James Foster batted sensibly for 19.

Hussain was becalmed on 49 for three overs before reaching his half century, but did not waste any time with his first hundred for 12 months in sight.

It arrived courtesy of a cover drive for four off Butler but Drum finally found a way through Hussain's defence as a debatable lbw decision gave him figures of three for 36.

New Zealand: S Fleming (Capt), M Richardson, M Horne, L Vincent, N Astle, C Cairns, C McMillan, A Parore, D Vettori, C Drum, I Butler.

England: N Hussain (capt), M Trescothick, M Vaughan, M Butcher, G Thorpe, M Ramprakash, A Flintoff, A Giles, J Foster, A Caddick, M Hoggard.

Umpires: A de Silva (SrL), B Bowden (NZ).

Test Match Special has live coverage of the first Test between New Zealand and England from 21.30 GMT Tuesday on BBC Radio 4, 198 LW and Five Live Sports Extra.