What this tour needs is a third test before the five ODIs and twenty20 international tacked on the end. That said, it will be great fun watching a new-look England team scramble to match the Black Caps' aggressive approach to the game. Cricket writer Adrian Seconi reports.
Remember Wellington?
The Black Caps seamer ripped through the England line-up during the World Cup pool match at Westpac Stadium.
His haul of seven for 33 was the best bowling by a New Zealander in an ODI and it set up the eight-wicket win.
That heavy defeat is obviously still fresh in the mind of England's selectors, who have made wholesale changes for this series.
Changes
And by wholesale changes, we mean eight players from England's World Cup squad have been cut.
It is a pity the out-of-form Gary Ballance has also been dropped, because Trent Boult has rather enjoyed bowling at the crease-bound left-hander.
Among the newcomers are wicketkeeper-batsman Sam Billings and clean-striking batsman Jason Roy.
Northamptonshire all-rounder David Willey - son of former England all-rounder turned umpire Peter Willey - will be hoping to add to his one ODI appearance.
He will have stiff competition from Ben Stokes, who returns to the side after being overlooked for the World Cup squad.
And legspinner Adil Rashid has an impressive record at first-class level and is a more than useful batsman.
Settled
The Black Caps are at the other end of the spectrum. While the team has lost the services of Daniel Vettori and Kyle Mills to retirement, and Adam Milne has been sidelined with a heel injury, it is a very familiar line-up indeed.
It is not even that different from the test side - which, let's face it, virtually approaches five-day cricket the same way it does limited-overs games.
There is no Mark Craig - Nathan McCullum is the preferred spinner in the abbreviated formats - and left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner should get a run at some stage during the series.
Left-armer Mitchell McClenaghan replaces fellow lefty Neil Wagner.
Test keeper BJ Watling makes way for Luke Ronchi, while World Cup hero Grant Elliott will be back in the action.
BrenDON
Who can wait to see McCullum back at the top of the order and clubbing that nice, new, hard white ball over extra cover or square leg?
A bat in his hands behaves more like a bazooka. He sets the tempo and only needs about 30 or so deliveries to have a major impact on a game.
And how many slips will he opt for, do you think? Three? Four? Four and a gully?
The game is in the middle of the revolution and McCullum is leading the charge.
Black Caps v England
Limited-overs campaign
• June 6: v Leicestershire, 9.30pm, Leicester
• June 9: v England, 1am, Edgbaston, 1st ODI
• June 12: v England, 12am, Surrey, 2nd ODI
• June 14: v England, 9.30pm, Hampshire, 3rd ODI
• June 17: v England, 1am, Trent Bridge, 4th ODI
• June 20: v England, 9.30pm, Durham, 5th ODI
• June 23: v England, 5.30am, Old Trafford, T20
