By MARK GEENTY in Leeds
New Zealand's test team have not graced Headingley for more than 20 years, but last time they nearly blasted the roof off the dressing room.
Their previous visit to Yorkshire's cricketing headquarters for a test in 1983 ended in one of New Zealand's landmark wins, their maiden
test victory in England to break a 52-year drought.
Four of that team - Ian Smith, Martin Crowe, Jeremy Coney and John Bracewell - will be present for the second test against England starting tonight, the first three as commentators and Bracewell as coach.
For Smith, Headingley is the least appealing test ground in the country, but one that provides his best memory.
"It was very gloomy and cold. The old concrete dressing room was the most dismal place for a party, but we had a huge one," he said.
Almost 21 years ago to the day, New Zealand rocked England by five wickets thanks to man-of-the-match Lance Cairns' figures of seven for 74 in the first innings and Ewen Chatfield's five for 95 in the second.
New Zealand chased just 102 to win, with Coney hitting the winning runs off England great Ian Botham.
For the present side the return comes with a deal of anxiety.
They know that a loss to England will see their much-hyped tour deemed a failure with still five weeks remaining.
"They like to feel their backs are to the wall," coach John Bracewell said as untimely injury concerns played havoc with team selection.
"They like that bit of an edge and it may be the thing they need to spark them into action."
Key allrounder Jacob Oram and batsman Craig McMillan remained doubtful for the match, Oram due to an aggravated side strain which will see him play no part as a bowler, and McMillan with a rebroken little finger.
Neither were yet ruled out, but Kyle Mills and Michael Papps were on tenterhooks as their likely replacements.
It added the pressure on Bracewell and captain Stephen Fleming, under whom the one-day game has progressed noticeably in the past six months while the test team have at times lacked a killer instinct.
England are in a buoyant mood, boosted by the return of captain Michael Vaughan.
Although spinners haven't prospered of late at Headingley, Daniel Vettori may still play a role, but he needs pressure to be applied from the other end.
The man of the match at Lord's, Andrew Strauss, is set to open again with Marcus Trescothick. Vaughan will be at No 4.
Paul Collingwood and spinner Ashley Giles are fighting for the final place.
While New Zealand heads drooped for several days after their seven-wicket loss at Lord's, Bracewell insisted their confidence had not taken a hit.
"I'm not too desperate about what happened in the last test."
With all the batsmen in the runs recently, except Scott Styris, the biggest question for Fleming is how his bowlers will snare 20 wickets on a Headingley pitch which appears dry and has a reputation for variable bounce but little seam movement.
The onus will be on Chris Martin to swing the ball and Daryl Tuffey to hit the seam more often as both spearheads look to lift their games from Lord's.
"As a unit we didn't bowl badly in that game. There were periods where they got away on us, but we're hoping for better," Martin said.
- NZPA
By MARK GEENTY in Leeds
New Zealand's test team have not graced Headingley for more than 20 years, but last time they nearly blasted the roof off the dressing room.
Their previous visit to Yorkshire's cricketing headquarters for a test in 1983 ended in one of New Zealand's landmark wins, their maiden
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