Guptill eager to smother Stokes

But after his man-of-the-match performance headlined by the fastest ever hundred at HQ and also containing a first-innings 92 and three crucial wickets, the tourists insist it is simply not an issue that Stokes was born in their country.

His brilliance in the first Investec Test helped England to a victory which means only they can take the two-match series when it resumes at Headingley on Friday.

As Kiwi opener Martin Guptill set his sights on levelling the score, he admitted Stokes took the game away in London.

But he and his team have not been wasting any energy fretting over the heritage of an opponent who left his native Christchurch as a schoolboy.

Asked if there was even a moment when it crossed their minds, Guptill said: "There's not much we can do about that, is there?

"He's chosen pretty early to go and play for England... so we've just got to get on with it.

"He played a hell of a knock the other day, and really took the game away from us.

"He was unlucky not to come away with two hundreds."

Stokes first announced himself on the international stage with a maiden hundred against Australia in his second Test, and has had his ups and downs since that innings in December 2013.

Guptill can hardly help but be impressed with what he has seen first hand, but nonetheless believes New Zealand can find a way of stopping Stokes.

"He's turned himself into one of England's better all-rounders, that they've had for a while," he added.

"He's a very aggressive player, likes to come out and play his shots and hits it cleanly.

"We'll come up with some plans to be able to counter that this week."

Guptill believes the current New Zealand team have it in them not just to tame Stokes, but to claim a series draw.

"We're pretty confident we can come out and square the series, and come away pretty happy," he said.

"On the last day (at Lord's), we just didn't quite get the batting right.

"We're going to come out this week firing, and hope to rectify that.

"It was very disappointing.

"Obviously, we came over here wanting to win the series.

"But you've got to be able to bounce back pretty quickly."

Brendon McCullum's team have shown the resilience required in the past, and Guptill senses they can do so again.

"We showed against Australia, in 2011, winning in Hobart - bouncing back in a heavy defeat in Brisbane," he added.

"I hope we can do that again this week... we're all raring to go for Friday."