England and New Zealand seek Lord's swing

It will be a case of familiarity having bred respect when England face New Zealand in the first of a two-Test series at Lord's tomorrow.
England could have been forgiven for thinking they had completed the hard part of their most recent tour programme when they wrapped up an impressive Test series win in India before Christmas.
They then travelled to New Zealand for a three-match series against a home side still reeling from the botched way in which senior batsman Ross Taylor was stripped of the captaincy and replaced by Brendon McCullum.
But the green pitches and easy haul of wickets against a New Zealand side who as recently as January had been bowled out for just 45 by South Africa in Cape Town did not materialise.

Instead, a three-match series ended 0-0 with England clinging on, by just one wicket, to a draw in the finale at Auckland's Eden Park in March where only a superb rearguard century by wicket-keeper Matt Prior denied the Black Caps a famous win.
But at least they had regained a measure of pride after their problems with the Proteas' formidable pace attack.

Early season Tests in English conditions often pose particular problems for touring sides, although overcast skies are not exactly unknown in New Zealand.
However, the raised seam of the English Duke ball provides an additional challenge for batsmen used to flatter balls elsewhere in the world.

Left-armers Trent Boult and Neil Wagner proved a handful for England's batsmen in New Zealand and now Alastair Cook, the England captain, will look to his side to respond in kind.