KEY POINTS:
New Zealand should have turned up for the second test at Old Trafford last night feeling pretty good about life after getting a draw in the first test at Lord's.
For a time early on in that test things did not look promising, but by the end of
it, Jacob Oram's fine century had inspired a gritty display which will help New Zealand's self-belief for the second and third tests.
The big question mark, which cannot be avoided, is the top order, and England will figure that's New Zealand's Achilles heel.
I don't think there is much between the two bowling attacks, but England without question will fancy their chances of outbatting New Zealand, and with good reason.
They have a collection of batsmen averaging 40-plus in tests, most of whom are seasoned professionals.
Assuming the weather doesn't intervene in the final two tests, New Zealand must somehow get about 350 to 400 in their first innings or they'll be in trouble.
Do that, and they will be in decent shape, but they cannot keep relying on the middle order to bail them out.
I was impressed with Daniel Flynn's debut. He stuck around with Oram for three hours on the final day and was smart. He rotated the strike, kept his head and will have learnt plenty about test cricket in that time.
Moving Brendon McCullum up to No 5 in the batting order split what is arguably the best 6-7-8 block in test cricket, with Oram and Dan Vettori either side of him.
Given his key wicketkeeping role and the demands that brings, should he be up that high? His 97 in the first innings reinforces the fact that he can handle the batting side of the job and while I would not want to see him any higher, I believe No 5 is fine.
In a sense, it is a reasonably easy batting position. You don't need to worry about the new ball, you have the chance to be in long enough to make big scores, and you can avoid being stuck with the tail.
You could call it the best of all worlds and in my time in the national side there was never a shortage of guys putting their hand up for No 5. It also helped protect Flynn to a degree, which was smart.
Should Oram and Vettori move up to six in the order from seven? No.
Doing that would unbalance the side. It would remove a specialist batsman - and you can't have a specialist batting at No 8, or even No 7 - and there's also the point that, having tinkered with McCullum, it would further jiggle a section of the batting order which is in good shape.
Oram averages 37.97; Vettori 27.59. Vettori is also the skipper and expected to bowl 30 or more overs an innings. He's got enough on his plate. In time, Oram has hinted he might have to become a specialist batsman if his legs start creaking again.
That's for later. For now, leave them be. It works well for the team.
England will fancy their chances of pressing on with winning the series. Old Trafford has a reputation for helping the quicker bowlers. Five of the last six tests there, going back to 2001, have produced wins.
New-ball bowlers Chris Martin and Kyle Mills should prosper; then again England fast-medium pair Ryan Sidebottom and Stuart Broad will be handy operators there as well.
If New Zealand can draw the series, they should be chuffed; anything better and it's time to break out the bubbly. But if the newer players, like Flynn, Tim Southee and Aaron Redmond absorb the lessons, New Zealand will have gained a substantial benefit from the tour.
* Adam Parore played 78 tests for the Black Caps.
