KEY POINTS:
MANCHESTER - New Zealand are set to stick with the same batting lineup despite the faltering performance of their top-six in the second cricket test loss to England.
Coach John Bracewell confirmed the top three of Jamie How, Aaron Redmond and James Marshall would remain intact for next week's third test in Nottingham and indicated that Peter Fulton was essentially cover for Daniel Flynn should he not recover in time from his fearful head knock.
There was speculation that No 3 Marshall, after scores of 24, nought, nought and 28, would be under pressure but Bracewell felt he needed time to stake the first drop position as his own.
"We're not really concerned about our opening batters, they're making progress and we want to be consistent with that throughout this series, so Redmond and How will open in the next test," Bracewell said.
"We don't want to muck around with James Marshall by shifting him up the order, we want to secure him in that position as well."
The most focus was on New Zealand's second innings collapse for 114 in their six-wicket defeat against England, who chased down 294 to win at Old Trafford.
Bracewell was forgiving, pointing out that seven England wickets also fell on a frantic third day where 16 wickets tumbled as spinners Daniel Vettori and Monty Panesar dominated with the pitch at its most helpful.
"We don't want to be shifting guys in and out of positions when we're trying to develop a young side and try to build their confidence and experience."
Bracewell revealed How suffered a cracked left index finger in fielding practice during the second test, and would rest from the three-day tour match against Northamptonshire starting on Friday but still be available for the third test.
Redmond and Fulton would open in Northampton, with Fulton in need of time in the middle after being confirmed as the replacement for the still-injured Jesse Ryder in the one-day squad.
While the natural reaction to such a "gut-wrenching" defeat, in Bracewell's words, would be to blame the batsmen, the coach raised more questions over the makeup of the bowling attack.
Kyle Mills, so pivotal in New Zealand's surprise first test win in Hamilton in March, has failed to make an impact in conditions expected to suit him in England.
However Bracewell was counting on swing playing an important part at Trent Bridge, meaning a race for two spots between Mills, Tim Southee and Iain O'Brien despite the latter's impressive performance at Old Trafford into a strong breeze.
"(Northampton) gives us a chance to look at some other players and bring them into test contention, in particular Tim Southee and see what option that gives us," Bracewell said.
"I was pretty happy with what Iain O'Brien did, but the Trent Bridge surface and conditions indicates it does swing a lot more there, so that brings both Kyle and Tim back into contention and makes those positions competitive."
Bracewell confirmed How, O'Brien, Jacob Oram and Chris Martin would rest at Northampton along with captain Vettori, assuming Flynn was passed fit.
The young left-hander who underwent dental surgery to restore his two missing teeth, and was experiencing ongoing nausea, would still need to pass a fitness test before being cleared to play at Northampton.
"The first thing we've got to do is throw him on a bike for 30-odd minutes to see if he doesn't throw up after that," Bracewell said.
If he was ruled out, Vettori would play as a batsman only at Northampton.
- NZPA
