Hussain needed treatment after taking a knock on his finger

Hussain had no complaints about the portable 'drop in' pitch at Jade Stadium, even though 22 wickets went down on the first two days.

"To have different pitches is not a problem, as long as the toss doesn't have too important a role.

"If you can lose a toss like that, be nought for two in the first over and go on and win the game, that shows the character in our side."

Injury worry

Hussain praised the performance of fast bowler Matthew Hoggard, who took seven wickets in New Zealand's first innngs and finally ended Astle's innings in the second after conceding 142 in 24 overs.

"He swings it, he bowls well to left-handers and right-handers, but his biggest asset is that he's got a big heart and he'll carry on trying and running in for you. He's a great trier and good bloke to captain."

The two teams now move on to Wellngton for the second Test and England must wait to see whether Mark Butcher will be fit after cracking his right thumb when taking a slip catch.

"At the moment it is a little bit sore, but we're treating it as a soft tissue injury and the crack is only on the surface really, across the knuckle of my thumb.

"There's quite a bit of pain there and swelling, so we'll just have to see how it comes up tomorrow," he said.

Craig White or Usman Afzaal could step in if Butcher is ruled out, or England could ask an extra batsman to join the squad.