England in New Zealand: Batting woes hamper Brendon McCullum’s Ashes preparations as top-order fail again

England’s 175 was slightly below their average first innings total of 244 in the ODIs in Hamilton.

Indeed, he was over a hundred runs behind the average winning score (287) when first batted on the ground.

With so few runs to play for, England’s bowlers needed to combine sharpness with control.

Archer brought both as he put down a pen during 10-over first-class fast bowling spanning two spells in his first outing of the winter.

The 30-year-old set the tone early with a full delivery in his first delivery that left Young trapped in front of the plumb.

New Zealand’s batsmen were bouncing around the crease as Archer bared his teeth with gnashing short balls.

Archer’s speed was there too. He averaged 87.4 mph across his two spells, with the fastest delivery of the day coming at 90.2 mph.

The Barbados-born fast bowler’s other two wickets owed slightly more fortune – Ravindra hooked it to Adil Rashid in the deep and Bracewell took one off his pads and slotted it into wicketkeeper Jos Buttler’s gloves.

However, they were won by oppression spells. Archer’s 51 dot balls were the most he has bowled in an ODI when he dispatched 10 overs.

Archer’s injury problems and careful management over the last few years have been well documented.

But his willingness to throw himself into the field (diving to stop balls on the boundary at fine leg) suggests there are no scars.

There will be no stepping back this winter.

England coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes will have taken note enthusiastically. With a little more trepidation, Australia will do the same.