James Anderson and Jack Leach take three wickets each to put Ben Stokes’ England in command

When a captain is even turning the timing of his declarations into an art form then he is clearly doing little wrong.

Ben Stokes was at it again on a second day of the final Test when everything went right for an England side already looking sure here to gain their seventh successive win and their 11th in only 12 matches since the beginning of their remarkable Test transformation.

There was indisputable cricketing logic behind Stokes decision to declare on the first day of this series in Mount Maunganui and allow Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad to bowl at New Zealand under lights.

But it was less clear what England would gain when their captain called them in today on the second morning with Joe Root in majestic touch on 153 and England with power to add to their 435 for eight. As it turned out it was another Stokes masterstroke.

It gave England two cracks at New Zealand with the new ball either side of lunch and Anderson exploited both ruthlessly, taking full advantage of conditions on the ground where he was first paired with Broad, more than a thousand wickets and 15 years ago.

There was indisputable cricketing logic behind Stokes decision to declare on the first day of this series

Once Anderson had taken the first three to fall, Devon Conway and Kane Williamson in the seven overs before the interval and Will Young after it, New Zealand were crumbling on 21 for three, just as England had been on day one. Only the Black Caps did not have a young genius in Harry Brook and an old master in Root to rescue them.

When Jack Leach, another selection success for Stokes, took three wickets of his own, helped by the sharpest of catching from Ollie Pope, the Black Caps had plummeted to 96 for six – and even though they had rallied slightly to 138 for seven by the time rain curtailed a second successive day, it would be a huge surprise if England were to be denied now.

This was another exceptional day for England even though Brook had perished quickly, 14 short of his first double century and, most frustratingly for him, 24 short of his dad David’s highest score for their home village of Burley in Yorkshire.

No matter. Where the boy wonder had dominated on day one Root now took over, accelerating to his 14th score of more than 150 plus in a Test career that has brought him 29 Test centuries with orthodoxy and a few scoops, both reverse and right-handed, thrown in.

Root, who questioned his role in ‘Bazball’ England after the first Test, was back to his very best here and timing his innings to perfection. This is exactly how he needs to play.

Only the contribution of the captain was something of an English disappointment. Stokes was in too much of a hurry again, slogging almost from ball one and reaching 27 before he found mid-off with an ugly swipe off Neil Wagner.

It was understandable Stokes was so determined to set the tone for the high-octane way he wants England to play when first he came together with Brendon McCullum but everyone has got the message now. He is too good not to at least give himself a chance to succeed before he tees-off.

Jack Leach took three wickets in Wellington, helped by the sharpest of catching from Ollie Pope

It took James Anderson just five balls to dismiss Devon Conway, who got the faintest of edges

It is a minor quibble because Stokes leadership is proving inspired. Truly, he is becoming another Mike Brearley in that he does not have to bat or bowl to have a major influence on the way England are playing.

But it helps when he has someone of the calibre of the newly crowned, at 40, best bowler in the world in the ICC rankings at his disposal. Not least for his intelligence.

Anderson quickly realised it was too cold and blustery at the Basin Reserve for swing, which he needed to make an impact in that 2008 victory here, so he concentrated on seam to devastating effect.

The most successful seamer in world Test history struck with only the fifth ball of the innings as Conway got an edge so thin it was missed by umpire Chris Gaffaney and, to be fair, a few of the England fielders. Pope at point and Zak Crawley at slip seemed the most convinced Conway had touched it and, when Stokes reviewed, they were proved right.

Anderson was to follow that with a classic piece of bowling to Williamson, wobbling one in to him and them moving the next ball away to elicit a loose shot from New Zealand’s out of form former captain.

And when he returned refreshed after the interval to produce an absolute beauty to take Young’s edge Anderson had done it yet again and was moving within sight of 700 Test wickets. Amazing.

When Stokes was asked before this Test whether he would consider leaving out his spinner at a ground that always suits seam and on a pitch as green as the outfield he answered simply ‘no.’ He has absolute faith in Leach and with that comes confidence for the slow left-armer that he can always play his part in this England attack.

James Anderson took the key wicket of Kane Williamson as he edges towards 700 Test wickets

Leach did not bowl brilliantly here but he bowled well enough, being helped when Pope grabbed Henry Nicholls reverse sweeping via his chest at short leg and then, stunningly, taking a one-handed catch at silly point when Daryl Mitchell virtually middled a forward defensive stroke.

There was perhaps a slice of good fortune for Leach, too, in his first wicket, Tom Latham being confirmed out by TV umpire Aleem Dar on review even though it was unclear whether the ball hit the top of his glove or arm guard on its way to Root at slip.

Broad got in on the act to grab a return chance offered by Michael Bracewell but first Test centurion Tom Blundell is still there and Tim Southee contributed a couple of meaty blows for six off Broad. But the only real question at the close was whether England would enforce the follow on or bat again on day three – either way they should win comfortably.