Hoggard left out of England team

Lord's, 15-19 May 2008
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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

Matthew Hoggard has been left out of England's team for the first Test against New Zealand, which starts at Lord's on Thursday.

England have chosen to keep faith with the players who fought back to win the series between the two sides earlier this year in New Zealand.

James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Ryan Sidebottom will lead the pace attack.

New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori is fit to play after having two stitches removed from his spinning finger.

The left-arm spinner suffered the injury to the index finger on his left hand in a warm-up match against Essex last week and missed the four-day match against the England Lions.

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However, after two days bowling in the nets, the 29-year-old believes he is fit enough to last the five days.

"I have gone through the last two training sessions. It's not perfect but it should be fine for the game," he said.

"Batting won't be an issue at all. It's just in the worst possible place for a left-arm finger spinner but it's healed really well."

His opposite number Michael Vaughan, who struggled as an opener in England's 2-1 win in New Zealand, confirmed that he would bat at number three, with Andrew Strauss restored to the top of the order alongside Alastair Cook.

"It's very important that I score runs," Vaughan said. "I have always preferred batting at number three as a captain. My record at three is quite good."

All-rounder Paul Collingwood takes his place in the side following a third injection in his troublesome right shoulder, while Stuart Broad and wicket-keeper Tim Ambrose will make their home Test debuts.

Vaughan said his inexperienced seam attack deserved another chance, despite the return to form of Hoggard, who was dropped after a poor performance in the first Test defeat in New Zealand.

"Hoggy has done everything we could have asked. He's gone back and bowled well for Yorkshire and got wickets, but when we've won a series and the guys that have come in and done reasonably well they deserve another opportunity," said Vaughan.

"They've been given that opportunity at Lord's in front of a lot of people and hopefully they can produce some really good performances."

New Zealand will hand debuts to opener Aaron Redmond and middle-order batsman Daniel Flynn, and Vettori believes his side's revamped top-order will impress on what should be a good batting surface.

The Black Caps have also moved wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum, a prolific batsman in one-day cricket, up from seventh to fifth in their batting order.

"We have to acknowledge he is one of our best batsmen, but he's always down at seven," Vettori added.

"He can still do a job as one of the best keepers in the world and now we are giving him a chance to be one of the best middle-order batsmen in the world. I think five is a nice balance because he's such an aggressive player."

The Kiwis lost their last Test series in England 3-0 in 2004 but Vettori believes his side are going into this three-match series in much better form.

"If we work hard we give ourselves half a chance because we're not blessed with the stars of other sides.

"But that has been a trait of New Zealand cricket ever since it started. We know if we compete somewhere near our potential we can win the series."

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

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, Iain O'Brien, Chris Martin.

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

TV umpire: Nigel Llong (Eng)

Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (Sri)