Ruthless England

David Lloyd saluted England's selection policy after James Anderson destroyed New Zealand.

David Lloyd gave the thumbs-up to England's no-mercy selection policy after watching James Anderson destroy New Zealand on day two of the second Test in Wellington. The tourists' decision to axe old stagers Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard following the first Test defeat paid rich dividends as the Kiwis were skittled for just 198 in their first innings - a deficit of 146. Anderson, who was last week given a warm-up for Auckland against Wellington as his team-mates were lurching from one disaster to another in Hamilton, justified his call-up with 5-73. And, despite the helpful conditions, Bumble doubts whether Harmison and Hoggard would have matched the Lancashire paceman's performance. "If they had bowled like they did at Hamilton, I don't think they'd have got too much out of the pitch. "When we've seen from the two coming in (Anderson and Stuart Broad) is more pace, and a greater energy in the team. "Matthew Hoggard, by his own admission, is a game away from being fit, and ruthless is what the selectors have been. It's so far, so good. "Anderson has got a five-for, Broad has supported him pretty well and he'll learn a lot from bowling on this pitch. His figures are 1-56, but there's no doubt the fielding and all-round energy of the team is better." Lloyd's Sky Sports colleague Bob Willis was less effusive in his praise of the selectors, and felt Anderson had benefited from a better preparation than the senior men. "He got all the practice which Harmison and Hoggard didn't get before the first Test, and it showed. "England were pretty ruthless...very quickly their two senior bowlers are on the sidelines. They should be licking their wounds, missing out on bowling on a pitch like that. "A word too for Ryan Sidebottom - Mr Reliable these days. He did a marvellous job, just over two runs an over conceded. It's not ideally his kind of pitch - he won't mind bowling on it, but there's no natural swing for him."