NEW Zealand may, in the eyes of England captain Michael Vaughan, be a "workmanlike" side but the hosts are set for another tough examination of their credentials at Old Trafford.This three-match series is all square ahead of the start of the second Test on Friday after New Zealand arguably had the better of a draw at Lord`s.
Sent into bat on overcast conditions before collapsing to five for 104, the Black Caps rallied to 277 all out thanks mainly to Brendon McCullum`s run-a-ball 97.
They then restricted England, who had far better weather to bat in, to a first innings lead of just 42 with captain Daniel Vettori leading from the front with five wickets.
And they ultimately had little difficulty in playing out a draw at Lord`s on the final day as all-rounder Jacob Oram compiled a splendid hundred.
England`s failure to polish off New Zealand again emphasised how much their fledgling attack misses the pace bowling of Andrew Flintoff, out of this series with a side strain.
New Zealand`s first innings was equally another example of their longstanding problem in scoring top-order runs.
But the way in which opener Jamie How and Test debutant Daniel Flynn batted second time around gave them some cause for optimism.
"Workmanlike" might be something of a backhanded compliment, and one Vettori laughed off at Lord`s, but, the latter stages of Vaughan`s hundred apart, the description might equally have applied to England`s first Test display.
"Workmanlike, yeah, but having said that Jacob`s and Brendon`s innings showed a little bit of style and class as well," John Bracewell, New Zealand`s coach, said.
"I certainly don`t mind that tag and crafting out results - there is nothing wrong with a good work ethic," the former New Zealand off-spinner added.
Ryan Sidebottom, who took six wickets at Lord`s to go with the 24 he managed during England`s 2-1 Test series win in New Zealand in March has been pinpointed by Vettori as the man his batsmen must see off in Manchester.
"He`s a left-armer who bowls at over 140kph and swings it a lot," Vettori said. "That makes your two right-arm outswing bowlers (James Anderson and Broad) even more dangerous because they offer that difference.
"Throw Monty Panesar in, who`s a very good left-arm spinner, and you have to say that`s a well-rounded attack."
WHAT Shane Crawford did to Dean Brogan last weekend and Daniel Harris last September weren`t the trademarks of football toughness. They were simply acts of stupidity
ROOKIE centre Rob Horne has been recalled to start for New South Wales in their Super 14 rugby semi-final against the Sharks on Saturday
Help her ... Britney Spears / Reuters
FORMER pop princess Britney Spears is calling on die-hard fans to help her name her new album, letting them vote on possible titles including one needling fellow troubled young celebrity Lindsay Lohan.
Members of the 25-year-old singer`s official fan club are invited to pick on her official website one of five proposed titles for her first studio album in three years.
"Britney is asking her most die-hard fans for some assistance in order to name her upcoming album," a message says on her website with five suggested titles.
But there`s a catch.
Only members of her official fan club can vote ... and to join costs almost $30.
Topping the list is a title poking fun at Lohan, a 20-year-old actress who, like Spears, has been a favourite target of the tabloid press for her rowdy nightlife and recently entered the same rehab clinic at Spears.
The title, Omg is Like Lindsay Lohan Like Okay Like, plays on the overuse of the word "like" in everyday conversations among young Americans and one of their favourite mobile phone text messaging shorthands, omg, for "oh my God."
The four other suggested titles are What if the Joke is on You, Down Boy, Integrity and Dignity.
The singer has shared similar troubles to Lohan this year and was spotted by paparazzi partying with the young actress as well as fellow troubled celebrity Paris Hilton in Hollywood in recent months.
Spears split from husband Kevin Federline last year, an event that triggered an avalanche of tabloid stories about the Oops! ... I Did It Again singer.
She was photographed partying hard in Los Angeles and Las Vegas - often pantyless - and bizarrely shaved her head shortly before entering a rehabilitation clinic.
In her previous web posting, Brit said she had been acting like a "bad kid with ADD".
Lindsay Lohan remains at (well, in and out of) the Malibu`s Promises treatment centre.
Lindsay entered the centre just days after being arrested for DUI (driving under the influence) when she crashed her car into the curb in Los Angeles.
Police found a "usable amount" of cocaine in her car.
