Brendon McCullum Ecstatic as New Zealand Bounce Back

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum praised his side's resilience after they bounced back from a heavy defeat to square their Test series with England.(Match Report | Scorecard)

The Black Caps completed an emphatic 199-run win in the second Test at Headingley on Tuesday to end the two-match series level at 1-1 just over a week after their 124-run defeat in the first Test at Lord's.

England, set what would have been a new fourth innings Test victory total of 455, resumed Tuesday on 44 without loss but collapsed to 62 for four before lunch and were eventually bowled out for 255.

Part-time off-spinner Kane Williamson, primarily a batsman and once barred from bowling in international cricket because of a suspect action, was one of New Zealand's bowling heroes with three for 15 in seven overs.

"We bounced back after Lord's," said McCullum at the presentation ceremony.

"Obviously with a two-Test series we had to force the pace and I thought the guys bought into that and we played a really entertaining brand of cricket," added McCullum after leading New Zealand to just their ninth win in 101 Tests against England.

Williamson made a fine century at Lord's but managed just six runs in total at Headingley, where he previously played for Yorkshire.

"There's instinct and then there's pure gambling I think....Kane's got a bit of a knack," said McCullum.

"He's one of those guys who if he's had a quiet Test match you can be pretty sure that he's going to get involved somehow.

"He was outstanding for us with the bat at Lord's and I know he was a bit frustrated with his dismissals in this Test, but he played such a crucial role for us -- three for 15 -- on the last day of a Test match as a part-time spinner, he just allowed the other guys to be able to settle into their work."

McCullum also singled out man-of-the-match BJ Watling who, playing as a batsman only after a knee injury suffered at Lord's prevented him keeping wicket, justified his inclusion with a second-innings 120 that enabled the tourists to build a decisive lead after both sides made 350 in their first innings.

"I thought BJ Watling was outstanding, we love him," said McCullum.

"He's a tremendous player, he's got a big heart and he's a guy that you can build your team around."

Meanwhile England captain Alastair Cook was left to rue another missed opportunity as, for the second series in a row following their drawn campaign in the West Indies, his side were pegged back after going ahead.

"It was a disappointing day today. After halfway we were right in the game but credit to New Zealand," said Cook, who surpassed Graham Gooch as England's all-time record Test run-scorer on Sunday.

England had been 215 for one in their first innings before losing a flurry of wickets while their fallible close catching -- several chances went down -- was shown up by New Zealand's excellence in the field.

"As always against a good side, if you're not 100 percent on your A game you get found out so credit to Brendon and his team," added Cook, England's man of the series after the left-handed opener's 162 at Lord's was followed by two fifties at Headingley.

"They deserved the win."