Despite the margin of victory it wasn't all plain sailing for the visitors. Here are five takeaways from their win in the series opener:

New Zealand left to rue missed opportunities

New Zealand's World Test Championship hopes are now hanging by a thread and in truth, they only have themselves to blame. This was an uncharacteristically sloppy New Zealand performance. They shelled a whopping eight chances in the field, five of which came off Harry Brook's blade – a joint record in the ball-tracking era (since 2006).

There were lackadaisical moments with the bat, too. Rachin Ravindra fell tamely in both innings when well set, while both Kane Williamson and Tom Blundell were caught cutting short deliveries straight to point. 199-3 became 348 all out, giving England an opening into the contest.

Black Caps top order shows signs of creaking

There were reminders in this game just why New Zealand's 3-0 win in India was so implausible. In a way, there are similarities with the current Australia line-up. Both sides have top sixes full of players with excellent records but if you lift open the bonnet, you'll see that underneath both are ageing line-ups with few players in form.

Devon Conway, who was recently one of the most consistent cross-format batters on the planet, averages 23 from his last eight Tests. Tom Blundell averages 15 from his last 10 Tests while even skipper Tom Latham only has two Test hundreds to his name in the last five years. Ravindra is the only player in the top six who is younger than 32 – a regeneration may not be too far away.

Brydon Carse is the real deal

A breakout performance from Carse after two encouraging outings in Pakistan. Carse was outstanding throughout the Test. What will be particularly pleasing for England is that he was able to sustain his pace and generate threat even with the older ball. His ten-wicket match haul is the first by an England seamer in an overseas Test since 2008; it is a feat that neither James Anderson nor Stuart Broad achieved in their decorated careers.

Pope nails stand-in duties to set up future conundrum

So assured was Ollie Pope with both bat and with the gloves that it does prompt the question, is this his best role? Despite a more than commendable record at three, the lower middle order has always felt a more natural fit for Pope. Pope's knock was the most convincing by an England player in the game, even more so than Brook's 171. He helped weather a storm before shifting the momentum back into England's favour. With Bethell impressing at three and Jamie Smith surely capable of batting there himself, it may be that Pope's short-term and long-term home is back in the middle order.

Ben Stokes injury raises balance question again

The captain assured the media post-game that he only took himself off mid-over on day four as a precaution. Even if that is the case, the volume of injury concerns the England captain has had in recent times is a worry.

There is no one who comes close to being a like-for-like replacement for Stokes. As we saw in the English summer, England felt the need to sacrifice batting strength to accommodate for the loss of a fifth bowling option. When he did bowl, Stokes looked threatening and bowled at good pace. England look a completely different side when Stokes is fit and firing somewhere close to his best – the issue recently has been that has only seldom been the case.

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