It is the start of an important year for England cricket and this two-Test series in New Zealand gives them an opportunity to keep the momentum going they started so spectacularly last year.

This is also a chance for England to assess what has given them that momentum and appreciate that, for all the talk of 'Bazball' and the hype surrounding it, they have also played some smart, savvy cricket.

England must not get carried away with the image of themselves as this ultra-attacking, ultra-positive gung-ho side. Fact is, they are a lot more than that and have played conditions superbly over the last year.

The reason England made 506 off just 75 overs on the first day of their series against Pakistan in Rawalpindi was because they realised the pitch was an absolute belter and had to buy themselves as much time as possible to take 20 wickets.

There were also times last summer when they did have to sit-in, like before their post-tea assault against New Zealand on the last day at Trent Bridge, but they have always chosen the perfect time to accelerate brilliantly.

And because they are always making at least par scores and often going beyond them, they have a captain who is switched on and ahead of the curve. 

Ben Stokes' feel for the game and tactics as captain in the field are as good as anybody I've ever seen. You only have to look at the Pakistan series for that. 

England took 20 wickets in all three Tests on three of the flattest pitches you could imagine and that told you everything about not only their attack but also a captain who has that real feel for the game.

The ability to sit-in and adapt to conditions will be crucial in this first day-night Test in Mount Maunganui because the pitch could be flat and the pink ball might be going soft - but then suddenly England could be batting against a newer ball in twilight.

So they will want to make hay and tee off when conditions are in their favour, and then maybe be a bit more circumspect when it does start zipping around under lights. I think they will do that. England will not just say 'this is the way we play' and go for it at all times.

We have heard Stuart Broad, Ollie Robinson and Jimmy Anderson all complain over the last few days about the pink ball they will be using in New Zealand, saying they don't like the lacquer and the feel of it.

But there will be times when it will be zipping around and they will want to be bowling with it. That could come, for instance, when England are, say, eight wickets down and I can imagine Stokes declaring to make sure they are bowling at the right times.

Some captains might have erred on the side of caution in those circumstances and said 'let's get as many runs as we can' and missed their window of opportunity. Not Stokes. He won't miss any chance to be bowling at the best time to take wickets.

The biggest thing I'd like to see from this series is Joe Root getting into batting rhythm. 

He's had a brilliant period but towards the end of last year his form just dipped a little and with the cricket England have ahead, including the Ashes, the one tick I'd like in the box when they leave Wellington after the second Test is for Root to get his rhythm back.

Joe is thoroughly enjoying being part of the way England are playing under his mate Stokes, and he's enjoying Test cricket after everything he went through as captain. But he knows deep down that his real enjoyment is from getting big runs.

We have seen Root playing reverse scoops and he wants to express himself and buy into this new style, but for me he has to sit down and set himself some new targets not only for the team but for himself.

This is a player who will end up as England's greatest ever batsman if he is not already there, and with the challenges ahead, if Root gets the runs he has churned out over the years, that will go a long way towards England carrying on winning the big Test matches.