Have Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum brought the fun back to English Test cricket?

Don't laugh but there were some similarities between the opening day last Thursday and the brave new England that ran out at the home of cricket for the 2005 Ashes.

Seventeen years ago, Harmy/Flinty/Jonesy and Hoggy blew apart the Australians for under 200 but England crash-landed on 92 for 7 with only KP's skunk hairstyle keeping us interested.

This time, Broady, Jimmy and Pottsy did the damage as the Kiwis were bundled out in an old school John Player Sunday League style 40 overs. Zak Crawley and Alex Lees aren't exactly alternative Andrew Strauss and Marcus Trescothick, but they fronted up well.

Ollie Pope wished he could be here today and gone tomorrow. Unfortunately, it was one flashing blade shot and out. Popey won't die wondering. He's usually dismissed before he has time to think.

Coach Baz will continually espouse "freedom" to try and loosen the Surrey youngster from his torture. It didn't do Mel Gibson any good, but it's worth a try.

However, this shiny new team under the guardianship of Brendon "Half Glass Continually Refilled" McCullum took the attitude that everything was great even after a gut punch.

The post-match adjectives from Broad and Anderson were telling.

First, Stuey rose above the party parapet to pay tribute to the atmosphere in the camp, an atmosphere considerably better than in the Caribbean a few months back.

"It's been one of the most fun weeks we've had as a team," he said.

"I don't think anyone who came to Lord's can argue it's not been fun, the style of cricket, edge of the seat at times, the crowd has got involved and it's something we want to take to Trent Bridge."

If that was encouraging from a man who likes to talk himself up, then there could only be eternal surprise from the reaction of the 'grumpy bastard' Jimmy Anderson.

"There's been a good vibe. I have enjoyed the positivity. That first day when we lost wickets, in years gone by we'd be too down about that and got worried and stressed," he said.

"But the message from the coach and captain was that we'd bowled brilliantly, fielded brilliantly."

For the time being the shoegazing has stopped. Matty Potts looks a natural and settled in straight away even if semi-Daddy Stokes was there to guide him along.

Read more: 16 conclusions from England's first Test win over New Zealand at Lord's