New Zealand resume on 319 for eight against England on the second day of the first test from 11am

The ballistic Glenn Phillips on 41 and the mercurial Tim Southee on 10 will don the pads for the hosts against the second new ball in what could be a boom or bust stanza.

A late flurry of runs would be welcome, knowing the visitors will likely start to benefit from the best of the Hagley Oval conditions given yesterday's baking and drying of the pitch in the Canterbury sun and wind.

Overcast skies are forecast for much of the day and the onus will go on a mixed aged New Zealand pace attack to draw the errors from an England batting line-up brimming with aggression.