England fast bowler Steven Finn has admitted that the pitch wasn't as responsive as his side would have hoped during day one of the third Test match with New Zealand.

Finn picked up the tourists' solitary wicket on a flat pitch in Auckland after captain Alastair Cook elected to bowl first.

However, despite their struggle in the field, Finn backed his skipper's decision, and believes that England applied themselves well.

The 23-year-old told reporters: "When we looked at the wicket this morning there was a lot of green grass on it. But it hasn't done as much as we thought it would.

"It's good that we didn't go chasing the game too much and leak boundaries. We stuck to our guns really well.

"As we have done in the past, we have to find a way on flat wickets."

Peter Fulton scored his maiden Test century as New Zealand reached the close of play on 250-1.