Moores calls for England momentum

England v New Zealand, First Test
Dates: 15-19 May Start time 1100 BST Venue: Lord's
Coverage: Radio Four, 5 Live Sports Extra, BBCi and BBC Sport website

---

Moores will use a bowling attack of three quicks and one spinner

England coach Peter Moores has urged his side to pick up where they left off in New Zealand last winter when the return Test series begins on Thursday.

England won 2-1 against the Kiwis in March and Moores told BBC Radio 5 Live: "We have to try to carry the momentum we picked up into this series.

"If we do, I think we've got a great chance of being successful."

Moores revealed Monty Panesar will play which means either James Anderson or Matthew Hoggard is going to miss out.

Hoggard, who was dropped by England after the first Test defeat against New Zealand in Hamilton, has taken 10 wickets for Yorkshire and returned 3-59 for England Lions against New Zealand before his recall.

Anderson - Hoggard's replacement for the second and third Tests in New Zealand - put a slow start to the domestic season behind him by returning match figures of 9-77 in Lancashire's County Championship victory over Durham.

But only one will be included at Lord's as Moores opts to deploy a bowling attack consisting of three seamers and one spinner.

"In cloudy conditions against the West Indies in the first Test last summer people said, 'should you have played a spinner?' and Monty got a five-for so I think it's always good to have a spinner in your squad," he said.

He has done what is required to get selected and it's unfortunate that he got this side strain Peter Moores on Andrew Flintoff

The Black Caps' last visit to England saw them suffer a 2-0 series defeat and on this occasion their preparations were disrupted by the participation of five key players in the Indian Premier League.

In addition, they are without their talismanic former captain Stephen Fleming, who retired after the series against England in New Zealand, and pace bowler Shane Bond, who has been banned from the national side following his participation in the Indian Cricket League.

But Moores insists his side will not be taking their opponents lightly.

"You underestimate somebody at your peril," he said. "They are tough and have got some good cricketers.

"We saw that (in the draw) against the Lions last week. It's going to be tough cricket and it would be wrong for anybody to think England are going to pitch up and just win because we won't unless we play some really good cricket."

England were widely expected to claim a 3-0 series triumph in New Zealand but the hosts caused something of a surprise by winning the first Test and taking the early initiative in the second.

As England step up their preparations for the 2009 Ashes, many are again expecting a series whitewash but Kiwi seamer Chris Martin feels such a prediction will benefit the tourists.

"There is a lot of hype that they should stamp on us and destroy us," he said.

"So that is probably something - if they are not doing that - that makes them feel the pressure a bit more.

606: DEBATE I might be in the minority but I actually think this series is going to be a tad harder than we're expecting Stretfordend

"That will do us a favour in some ways, so that's good."

While New Zealand are set to be boosted by the return to fitness of their captain Daniel Vettori, Moores admitted Andrew Flintoff would have been included in the England squad had he been fit.

The Lancashire all-rounder, who has not played a home Test match since June 2006, had returned to form with the ball following a fourth operation on his troublesome left ankle.

But he picked up a side strain during Lancashire's Championship victory over Durham and it is unclear how long he will be sidelined for.

"He's been carefully monitored by the medical team and his ankle has done very well," said Moores.

"We know that the way he bowls demands the rest of his body to be fit but we would have picked him in the squad and assessed exactly where he is and if he had been ready for this Test match.

"Most of my time as coach has unfortunately been without Freddie through injury but we're not going to rush him back.

"He has done what is required to get selected and it's unfortunate that he got this side strain, but hopefully it is not too serious and we can get it cleared up quickly."

---

England (from): Michael Vaughan (capt), Alastair Cook, Andrew Strauss, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Tim Ambrose (wkt), Stuart Broad, Ryan Sidebottom, Monty Panesar, James Anderson, Matthew Hoggard.

New Zealand (from): Aaron Redmond, Jamie How, James Marshall, Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum (wkt), Daniel Flynn, Jacob Oram, Daniel Vettori (capt), Kyle Mills, Tim Southee, Chris Martin.

Umpires: Simon Taufel (Aus) and Steve Bucknor (WI)

TV umpire: Nigel Llong (Eng)

Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (Sri)