New Zealand have returned to their default setting as international cricket scrappers with three days remaining in the second Test in Wellington.

After going toe-to-toe with world No.2 England in the drawn first Test at Dunedin last week, the hosts are firmly on the back foot after the second day at the Basin Reserve.

They go into the third morning on Saturday teetering at 3-66 off 33 overs, still trailing England by 399 runs.

Much responsibility rests with Kane Williamson, the man who saved last year’s Test at the same ground with a gritty century on a fifth-day pitch against South Africa.

He resumes on 32 alongside Dean Brownlie on eight and the pair can expect another stern examination from the England seamers, who removed Peter Fulton (1), Hamish Rutherford (23) and Ross Taylor (0) in Friday’s final session – the latter pair dismissed in consecutive balls by Stuart Broad.

Spinner Bruce Martin, New Zealand’s best bowler with 4-130, said character will be needed for the rest of the Test.

“Obviously we’re in a little pickle and there’s some good hard work (required) on a pretty nice wicket out there,” he said.

“We’ve got some pretty good batsmen to come and well just keep scrapping. That’s what Kiwis pride themselves on.”

Wicketkeeper Matt Prior, who cracked a rapid 82 in England’s 465, said the pitch was showing the initial signs of breaking up.

Spinner Monty Panesar looked ineffective compared to the English seam attack but Prior believed the left-armer would come increasingly into play.

“The wicket has changed enough to show that it’s going to deteriorate,” Prior said.

“It spun a little bit as well so that’s good news for Monty and there’s still that little bit of pace and carry.

“We’ve got to make sure that we come in tomorrow and really press this advantage home.”