Anderson ready for Kiwi backlash

England seamer James Anderson expects to face an onslaught from the New Zealand pace attack when the Third Test begins at Trent Bridge on Thursday.

On day one of the second Test at Old Trafford, one Anderson ball knocked out two of Daniel Flynn's teeth and another struck Jacob Oram on the helmet.

"I expect I'll probably get a few shorts balls from the New Zealand bowlers," said Anderson.

"Certainly it's something I'll be working on in the nets with the bat."

Taking a 1-0 lead into the final Test following their six-wicket win in Manchester, England only need to avoid defeat at Trent Bridge to wrap up a series victory.

But Anderson, who exploited a seam-friendly pitch to produce an aggressive post-lunch spell on the opening day at Old Trafford, is preparing to be on the receiving end when England bat in Nottingham.

"I'll be ready to take evasive action or maybe even play some shots - if they decide to bounce me," he said.

"What happened in the second Test won't stop me using the bouncer again at Trent Bridge on Thursday and overall I am reasonably pleased with my bowling performances in the series."

"Confidence-wise, we are going to take a lot from that win at Old Trafford and build on that during the week at nets and in the time we've got together to prepare us in the right way.

"Hopefully if we stick to what we do well we'll be able to wrap up the series at Trent Bridge with a win and finish 2-0 up."

England have named an unchanged side for a fifth successive match but New Zealand could make changes, especially to their batting line-up, in a bid to draw the series.

James Marshall has endured a hugely disappointing series at number three and followed low scores at Lord's and Old Trafford with knocks of two and 11 in the drawn tour match against Northants.

Number six Flynn, who has been undergoing dental work, made scores of two and six at Wantage Road.

Peter Fulton or reserve wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins might be in line for call-ups.

"He looked, for the first time in a long time, in pretty good nick," New Zealand coach John Bracewell said of Fulton, who made a first-innings half-century against Northants.

"We were really pleased with the way he went, and he certainly comes into contention."

Despite the Old Trafford defeat, vice-captain Brendon McCullum is remaining positive.

"In a strange sort of way, Old Trafford was a confidence-builder for us," said the wicket-keeper batsman.

"We put ourselves in a position where we should have won the Test match. That was something that, heading into the Test, we may not have whole-heartedly believed.

"To be able to do that and then go to Northampton and put on a performance like we have - batting so clinically - was pretty good.

"It's a step forward. It certainly hasn't rectified all our issues, but in my mind it is a step in the right direction."

England squad: Michael Vaughan (Yorkshire) (captain), Tim Ambrose (Warwickshire, wkt), James Anderson (Lancashire), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Paul Collingwood (Durham), Alastair Cook (Essex), Kevin Pietersen (Hampshire), Monty Panesar (Northamptonshire), Ryan Sidebottom (Nottinghamshire), Andrew Strauss (Middlesex), Chris Tremlett (Hampshire).