Date-stamped : 25 Jan97 - 14:21 24 January 1997 Troubled Sides May Hatch Intriguing Test New Zealand and England, two underachievers in test matches in recent years, will attempt to climb the world cricket ladder in the first of an intriguing three-match BNZ series at Eden Park today. Both sides have been in the lower echelons of the test tree dur- ing the past five years, battling alongside Zimbabwe to avoid bottom ranking. New Zealand`s record since 1992 from 36 tests is five wins (its last series success was against Zimbabwe in 1992-93), 17 losses, and 14 draws. England`s record is remarkably similar, 43 tests in the same period have produced eight wins, 20 losses and 15 draws. New Zealand has continually claimed to be rebuilding since the Hadlee-led era ended in 1990. With the seeming end to the upheavals which have beset the sport in recent years hints of up- ward movement have to be maintained. England, similarly, with its complex county structure has also been beset by problems and politics. The national team has rarely seemed to perform in line with its England is desperate to string together some impressive results after its poor efforts in Zimbabwe and silence the baying British press, while New Zealand is keen to enhance its credibility, which has been battered, in the longer version of the game. The prospect is of two evenly matched teams, while lacking many world-class stars, being full of able players keen to consolidate their test careers. Both sides possess capable batting and bowling line-ups, with New Zealand likely to play all-rounder Justin Vaughan in preference to left-arm slow bowler Mark Haslam. With a number of stroke-makers in its top order, Vaughan will probably be included to help provide some batting stability as well as the fourth seam bowler option. England could follow New Zealand`s lead or take a different ap- proach and attack with its accomplished slow bowlers, Phil Tuf- nell and Robert Croft. New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns, who plays against all the Englishmen for Nottinghamshire, believes the pair could have a vital role to play in the series. Much depends on the availability of key fast bowler Dominic Cork, who suffered a back injury during the last match against Northern Districts. Cork bowled vigorously in two separate work-outs yesterday and his inclusion depended on his recovery today. Because it has so few quality spin bowlers, New Zealand batsmen have tended to succumb to good slow bowlers. Tufnell tormented New Zealand the last time England toured here in 1991-92. Fortunately for New Zealand the wicket is unlikely to take much turn until the latter days, with the pace bowlers expected to hold sway during the early sessions. For once in recent seasons, New Zealand is able to field a first choice attack in Cairns, Danny Morrison, and Simon Doull. The newly laid wicket at the ground offers the expectation of greater bounce and carry than in the past, making for a better spectacle than some of the slow-paced pitches that have been pro- duced previously. Teams:-- New Zealand: Bryan Young, Blair Pocock, Adam Parore, Stephen Fleming, Nathan Astle, Chris Cairns, Justin Vaughan, Lee Germon (captain), Dipak Patel, Simon Doull, Danny Morrison, Mark Haslam. England (likely 12): Mike Atherton (captain), Nick Knight, Alec Stewart, Nasser Hussain, Graham Thorpe, John Crawley, Craig White, Robert Croft, Dominic Cork, Darren Gough, Allan Mullaly, Phil Tufnell. Umpires: Steve Dunne (New Zealand), Steve Bucknor (West Indies). Source :: The Christchurch Press (http://www.press.co.nz) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)