Jonny Bairstow saves England from another batting embarrasment in New Zealand

Behind in the two-match series after being skittled out for 58 in the defeat in Auckland last week, England's batting line-up again looked desperately brittle as they slipped to 94-5 in Christchurch after a spell of three wickets for one run.

But, Bairstow, eyeing up a fifth Test ton on day two, and Ben Stokes (25) first launched a mini recovery with a 57-run stand, before Mark Wood (52) - back in the Test team for the first time since July - outdid his good friend and Durham team-mate by scoring his first Test fifty, off only 54 balls.

Tim Southee starred with the ball for New Zealand, taking 5-60, as he and Trent Boult (3-79) once again did the bulk of the damage with some skilful swing bowling.

Kane Williamson probably had England's first-Test horror showing in mind when deciding to insert the opposition on a green-tinged wicket after winning the toss. But, while England lost the woefully out of sorts Alastair Cook (2) early on - bowled by Boult - the touring side battled manfully through to lunch.