New Zealand have recalled Will Young as an extra batsman and opted for a three-pronged pace attack against an unchanged England as the hosts try to level the series with victory in the second test in Wellington staring on Friday.

Rookie quicks Blair Tickner and Scott Kuggeleijn have been dropped for the match at the Basin Reserve, while seamer Matt Henry comes back into Tim Southee's side after missing the first test at Mount Maunganui for the birth of his first child.

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Ben Stokes's England won the pink-ball opener by 267 runs within four days and are bidding to win their first test series in New Zealand since 2008.

Southee won the toss on a gusty morning in Wellington and elected to field first on a grassy pitch.

The home skipper also won the toss and elected to bowl in the opening defeat at the Bay Oval.

"Hopefully a bit of life in it but usually a good cricket surface over the test match," said Southee, adding that all-rounder Daryl Mitchell would play a bigger role with his medium pace.

Stokes said England would also have fielded. "Different pitch, will play different to last week," he said. "We might get put under a bit more pressure in this game."