England Check New Zealand's Progress With Wickets

England's bowlers worked their side back into the match after New Zealand dominated the early exchanges of day one of the second Test at Old Trafford. Bad light ended play for the day shortly after tea with New Zealand on 202 for four, Ross Taylor unbeaten on 67.

Ryan Sidebottom took two quick wickets before lunch and England took two wickets shortly after as the balance of the match shifted back towards the home side. New Zealand then saw both Daniel Flynn and Jacob Oram hit on the head by James Anderson, Flynn having to retire hurt, missing some teeth, Oram gaining four leg byes to third man.

Openers Jamie How, who registered a 75-ball half-century, and Aaron Redmond (28) cashed in on some wayward bowling early on from Anderson, bringing up a half-century partnership inside the first hour, forcing England captain Michael Vaughan to turn to spinner Monty Panesar after nine overs.

Both batsmen looked very comfortable and took on Panesar, Redmond lifting him over his head for four and How sweeping powerfully for the same result. Stuart Broad applied a little more control when he replaced Ryan Sidebottom, England's most economical bowler but England's performance in the first hour was poor.

After a drinks break, and perhaps some stern words from Vaughan, things changed markedly. Sidebottom's return, coupled with a good spell from Broad put some pressure back on New Zealand and England got their first wicket when Redmond left a delivery which clipped his off-stump.

Sidebottom's second wicket swiftly followed when James Marshall was trapped in front for a duck.

After lunch, Anderson found his line and had How caught by Tim Ambrose for a classy 64 as England fought back. Brendon McCullum (11) looked keen to continue his aggressive strokeplay that got him 97 at Lord's, hitting Panesar for a four through point and then a six over midwicket.

His attacking mindset proved to be his downfall as later in the over, he edged a flighted delivery with Paul Collingwood taking a sharp catch at slip after the ball flicked off Ambrose's gloves.

Flynn was dealt a nasty blow by a pumped up Anderson in front of his home ground, and had to leave with Oram once again called to the crease after an injury. At Lord's, he hit a century, here he was predictably targeted by more short balls and Vaughan had no hesitation in bringing Sidebottom back.

The same approach had little impact on Ross Taylor, a man transformed from Lord's, who smashed Anderson for six in authoritative style. Two flashing cuts off of Anderson took him to a fourth Test fifty but his innings was also peppered with equally eye-catching straight drives.

Oram struggled before tea but afterwards twice cover drove Panesar to the boundary before play was interrupted due to bad light with New Zealand having just passed 200.

New Zealand made one change to their Lord's line up, Iain O'Brien replacing Tim Southee who has struggled with a stomach upset while England are unchanged for the fourth game in a row.

The first match at Lord's was badly affected by rain and bad light and was drawn.

England: Alastair Cook, Andrew Strauss, Michael Vaughan (captain), Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwod, Ian Bell, Tim Ambrose (wicket-keeper), Stuart Broad, Ryan Sidebottom, Monty Panesar, James Anderson

New Zealand: Aaron Redmond, Jamie How, James Marshall, Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum, Daniel Flynn, Jacob Oram, Daniel Vettori, Kyle Mills, Iain O'Brien, Chris Martin