England remain unchanged

Selectors keep the faith ahead of Old Trafford Test

By Joe Drabble   Last updated: 23rd May 2008

Michael Vaughan England May 08

Vaughan will lead an unchanged team at Old Trafford

They deserve another opportunity to prove what they are made of.

Michael Vaughan
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England captain Michael Vaughan has announced an unchanged side to play New Zealand in the second Test at Old Trafford on Friday.

England had called up Hampshire fast bowler Chris Tremlett into their 12-man squad following the rain-hit first Test, after Matthew Hoggard sustained a broken thumb playing for Yorkshire.

However, England have opted to stick with the three-man pace attack which could only muster a draw in the opening Test at Lord's - left-armer Ryan Sidebottom, James Anderson and Stuart Broad all retain their places.

"Tremmers is bowling well and this kind of wicket could suit his style of bowling but I fully believe the young lads deserve another crack," Vaughan said.

Opportunity

"I felt they all bowled well in spells at Lord's and they all could bowl well on this kind of wicket.

"They deserve another opportunity to prove what they are made of."

It is the fourth Test in a row that England, who won 2-1 in a three-Test series in New Zealand in March, have named an unchanged team.

England's top six remain intact even though they have managed a first innings score of 400 just once in their last 11 Tests.

But Vaughan rejected claims the batsmen, all of whom are centrally contracted, had become complacent.

"I certainly don't think it's cosy," he said. "I see the way the lads train and I don't see any complacency in any of the batsmen.

"Sometimes you can look too deep into it and try too hard. All the lads have to do is to go out and play and express their talent and react to the situation.

"They are all good players; we talk about form and people not getting runs all the time, (but) I fully expect all the guys this week to go and get big scores against New Zealand on what is a good wicket.

"We are all playing well at times but not as a collective unit.

"We do try and look to get two players to a hundred in the first innings to get a big score.

"More often than not, (only) one of us has got a hundred and we've always fallen short of the 400 to 450 target that we like to achieve."

England team to play New Zealand in the second Test:
Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook, Michael Vaughan (capt), Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Tim Ambrose (wkt), Stuart Broad, Ryan Sidebottom, Monty Panesar, James Anderson.