Kane Williamson slipped seamlessly back into the New Zealand cricket team, top-scoring with 93 as the Black Caps reached 319-8 Thursday on the first day of the first cricket test against England.
At stumps, after 83 overs, Glenn Phillips was 41 not out and Tim Southee at the start of his last series before retirement was 10.
Williamson was injured and missed New Zealand’s historic 3-0 series win over India in India last month. That meant he had played only two tests and a recent domestic first-class match since June.
But he was unimpeded by his recent lack of activity, coming within seven runs of his 33rd test century before falling midway through a final session in which New Zealand lost five wickets and some of the advantage it held earlier in the day.