<p class="title">England were guarded over whether injury-hit Ben Stokes would bowl against New Zealand when he makes his Test comeback from suspension on Thursday.</p>.<p class="title">Speaking on Wednesday, ahead of the first day-night Test to be held in New Zealand, captain Joe Root said the all-rounder would "play a part" but would not discuss what role he would fill.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"There's still stuff that needs to come out of today to be very sure of that," Root said, when asked whether Stokes, 26, had recovered sufficiently from a back strain to bowl normally. But I'm quite happy that Ben will play a part in the game."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Stokes, suspended after a nightclub incident last September which left him facing a charge of affray, was sorely missed by England in their 4-0 trouncing by Australia in the Ashes series.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He returned to international cricket in the recent limited-overs series against New Zealand, which England won 3-2, but has been hampered by back stiffness.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Meanwhile, New Zealand captain Kane Williamson said senior batsman Ross Taylor, who has a Test average of 48.04, had been passed fit after recovering from a groin injury and stomach bug.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"He's good to go so that's great news for us," Williamson said. "Roscoe has played beautifully every time he's walked out to the crease, the calmness at the crease, the confidence.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It's reflected in how much success he's had this year. It's important for us as a team that he's there."</p>.<p class="bodytext">The clash at Auckland's Eden Park will be the ninth day-night Test but the first to be played in New Zealand.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Williamson described it as a "slightly unique and an exciting opportunity", but was aware the teams were heading into the unknown.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"There is probably a danger of over complicating some of the finer parts of the pink-ball game," he said, pointing to variable characteristics at different stages of the ball and times of day.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"There's definitely some unknowns. There's a lot of talk about the evening session and the condition of the ball in that time.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"There's heaps of different stats but there's still unknowns. The sample size of pink-ball cricket is fairly small but it's important that you adapt as a change of conditions may happen coming into different stages of the day."</p>.<p class="bodytext">New Zealand are likely to make two changes from their last Test, against the West Indies.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Williamson said Todd Astle would replace Mitchell Santner as the spinner in the side and BJ Watling would return as wicketkeeper.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Watling has recovered from the hip injury which sidelined him from the West Indies' Tests in December.</p>.<p class="bodytext">New Zealand have played only one pink-ball Test, when they lost the inaugural day-nighter against Australia in 2015.</p>.<p class="bodytext">England have played under lights twice in the past year, beating the West Indies at Edgbaston before losing to Australia in Adelaide.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Having experienced both sides of it I think we're a better side for it," Root said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We know generally what to expect throughout the five days at different times throughout each day."</p>
<p class="title">England were guarded over whether injury-hit Ben Stokes would bowl against New Zealand when he makes his Test comeback from suspension on Thursday.</p>.<p class="title">Speaking on Wednesday, ahead of the first day-night Test to be held in New Zealand, captain Joe Root said the all-rounder would "play a part" but would not discuss what role he would fill.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"There's still stuff that needs to come out of today to be very sure of that," Root said, when asked whether Stokes, 26, had recovered sufficiently from a back strain to bowl normally. But I'm quite happy that Ben will play a part in the game."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Stokes, suspended after a nightclub incident last September which left him facing a charge of affray, was sorely missed by England in their 4-0 trouncing by Australia in the Ashes series.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He returned to international cricket in the recent limited-overs series against New Zealand, which England won 3-2, but has been hampered by back stiffness.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Meanwhile, New Zealand captain Kane Williamson said senior batsman Ross Taylor, who has a Test average of 48.04, had been passed fit after recovering from a groin injury and stomach bug.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"He's good to go so that's great news for us," Williamson said. "Roscoe has played beautifully every time he's walked out to the crease, the calmness at the crease, the confidence.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It's reflected in how much success he's had this year. It's important for us as a team that he's there."</p>.<p class="bodytext">The clash at Auckland's Eden Park will be the ninth day-night Test but the first to be played in New Zealand.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Williamson described it as a "slightly unique and an exciting opportunity", but was aware the teams were heading into the unknown.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"There is probably a danger of over complicating some of the finer parts of the pink-ball game," he said, pointing to variable characteristics at different stages of the ball and times of day.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"There's definitely some unknowns. There's a lot of talk about the evening session and the condition of the ball in that time.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"There's heaps of different stats but there's still unknowns. The sample size of pink-ball cricket is fairly small but it's important that you adapt as a change of conditions may happen coming into different stages of the day."</p>.<p class="bodytext">New Zealand are likely to make two changes from their last Test, against the West Indies.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Williamson said Todd Astle would replace Mitchell Santner as the spinner in the side and BJ Watling would return as wicketkeeper.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Watling has recovered from the hip injury which sidelined him from the West Indies' Tests in December.</p>.<p class="bodytext">New Zealand have played only one pink-ball Test, when they lost the inaugural day-nighter against Australia in 2015.</p>.<p class="bodytext">England have played under lights twice in the past year, beating the West Indies at Edgbaston before losing to Australia in Adelaide.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Having experienced both sides of it I think we're a better side for it," Root said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We know generally what to expect throughout the five days at different times throughout each day."</p>