England make shocking start

The tourists appeared to have claimed a major advantage by winning the toss and deciding to bat first on a flat-looking surface against opponents who included two debutants in 19-year-old Southee and South African-born all-rounder Grant Elliott.

But England's hopes of recording a major total were quickly undermined with swing bowler Southee, man of the tournament at the recent Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia, claiming the wickets of Michael Vaughan and Andrew Strauss in his first three overs as the tourists slumped to seven for three inside the first seven overs.

England appeared to have all the momentum following their comfortable 126-run victory in Wellington, while New Zealand lost both all-rounder Jacob Oram and seamer Kyle Mills to injury before the start of the Test.

By contrast, the tourists were able to name an unchanged team, with both all-rounder Paul Collingwood (bruised calf) and seamer Jimmy Anderson (left ankle) able to pass themselves fit.

The momentum soon shifted to New Zealand, however, with Southee claiming a wicket with his 11th ball by swinging the ball into England captain Vaughan's pads and winning a regulation lbw appeal from umpire Rudi Koertzen.

Just six balls later, Southee took his second wicket in Test cricket and continued Strauss' miserable run at this level after the Middlesex left-hander drove loosely outside off stump and was caught smartly in the gully by Jamie How for a duck.

Strauss, recalled after missing the series defeat in Sri Lanka before Christmas, took his tally for the series to just 107 runs in five innings and it is now seven innings since his last half-century.

Opener Alastair Cook followed in the next over when he pushed forward to seamer Chris Martin and got an inside edge onto his stumps for two as England lost three wickets without adding a run in just 17 balls.

It left both Ian Bell and Kevin Pietersen with the responsibility of guiding the tourists to a respectable total, knowing they must end the dismal run of eight Tests without a first-innings century for any member of the top six.