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LONDON - New Zealand are bracing for a pace barrage on one of England's favourite test cricket grounds after escaping with a Lord's draw and renewed confidence.
Both sides travel up the M1 to Manchester for Friday's second test with the series level, after a Jacob Oram century ensured New Zealand secured a comfortable draw at 269 for six on day five of the first test.
It was the fifth consecutive test draw at Lord's for England who now move to a ground where they've tasted much more recent success.
England have won four of their last five tests at Old Trafford, against Sri Lanka, Pakistan and twice against the West Indies, while the other was an epic draw against Australia in 2005.
The tourists, meanwhile, have played only one test there in the past 50 years for a draw in 1994.
New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori, man of the match at Lord's after his first innings five for 69, felt there was plenty for the tourists to feel good about.
But he knew how England would approach the second test on a Manchester pitch renowned in recent years for its pace and bounce.
"The England guys have mentioned a couple of times that it's got a bit of pace. In a lot of ways we're excited by that, I know our fast bowlers will be," Vettori said.
"It's just another challenge. Around the world there's no set recipe for wickets any more - good players adapt and the good teams win, no matter what the situation."
England drafted in tall pace bowler Chris Tremlett yesterday to replace the injured Matthew Hoggard in their 12, although it seems both sides will go in unchanged after an even Lord's contest.
Vettori hailed Oram's 121-ball century, his fifth at test level, the cool-headed backup from debutant Daniel Flynn in helping add 132 for the fifth wicket, and the general batting effort after enduring the worst of the damp, seaming conditions on Thursday.
He admitted his side were under pressure for the majority of the first test, but laughed at a question about whether he felt England put in a "workmanlike" performance, similar to home captain Michael Vaughan's pre-match description of the tourists.
"We know how good a side England are, and when they were 110 for none there were concerns.
"We put ourselves back in the game with the way that we bowled and England always were nagging away.
"When you've got Ryan Sidebottom in your side and his ability to take wickets at any point worries us a little bit."
While opener Jamie How played a crucial hand on day five, scoring 68 in over three hours, fellow top-four members Aaron Redmond, James Marshall and Ross Taylor didn't top 25 in either innings.
Vaughan said his pacemen and spinner Monty Panesar, who's taken 18 wickets in his last two Old Trafford tests, would again look to exploit New Zealand's top order.
"It's a good ground for us, and Monty Panesar bowled very well in this game without getting a haul of wickets," Vaughan said.
"He'll be going to Manchester knowing in his last two games he's got six in an innings twice. Hopefully he'll come to the fore there as will all the seam bowlers.
"Old Trafford will be a quick bouncy wicket, it's usually a good pitch to bowl the short stuff on, but you've also got to be disciplined enough to get the ball in the right area also."
- NZPA
