The Blackcaps will receive a boost for the second test against England in the form of a healthy Henry Nicholls.
The batter was ruled out of the opening match defeat due to a calf injury - compounded by a bout of COVID-19 - but trained fully on Thursday and declared himself fit and available for selection for the second test of the series at Trent Bridge, starting Friday.
"I am ready to play and excited to be back in the team," Nicholls told Stuff. "It's a shame to miss the first test but nice to be back. I got through everything and ready to go for tomorrow.
"It was pretty frustrating, the calf itself and we had a pretty good rehab plan going. Then the fourth day of the tour I managed to pick up COVID-19 and that put us back a bit and scuttled the hope that I was going to be able to make the first test."
"But then the work I’ve done with VJ the physio and everything to get right has given me the confidence that I can go out and play and get back into enjoying test cricket."
Nicholls will likely slot straight back into the starting XI in place of injured Colin de Grandhomme - who'll play no further part in the tour due to a heel injury - where he'll add some welcome steel to the middle order.
Meanwhile, captain Kane Williamson dismissed talk of his own subpar form, after his struggle for runs continued in the five-wicket loss at Lord's.
Coming off a miserable IPL campaign with Sunrisers Hyderabad and a duck in the Blackcaps' warm-up match against a Counties XI, Williamson posted scores of two and 15 - falling prey to impressive England rookie Matthew Potts on both occasions. Those efforts saw him slip to No. 5 in the world test batting rankings.
"For me, it's about committing to what's important to the team, the role I have coming in at No. 3, and coming in against the best bowlers in the world in these conditions," he said.
"I'm looking to take that on board, move forward and try to make as big a contribution as I can."
Despite the loss, the 31-year-old insisted the test was still finely balanced and minor tweaks should bring better results at Nottingham, as the Blackcaps look to keep the series alive.
"It was a really good game of cricket that could have gone either way," he said.
"For us, it's reflecting on those positives and we know we're up against a strong English side that have a well-balanced squad, are going through a transition and played really well.
"We want to improve on that performance and touch on some small areas."
England have named the same starting XI for the second test, with spinner Jack Leach cleared to return after suffering a head knock in the field, which forced him out of the opening test on day one.
Leach has cleared concussion protocols, meaning Matt Parkinson returns to the bench.
