Cricket: Heat on Black Caps after test wash up

4.00pm - By MARK GEENTY

LONDON - The New Zealand cricket team's trip to Leicester this week has taken on far greater significance as concerns loom over their middle order batting and the bowling attack.

The tourists hit the road today for the four-day match against Leicestershire, beginning on Friday, smarting from a seven-wicket loss to England in a gripping first test that only became a one-horse race on the last afternoon.

Led by Nasser Hussain's 103 not out in what could be his final test innings as he contemplates retirement, England reached their target of 282 with eight overs to spare on the fifth day at Lord's.

New Zealand had their noses in front for a fair share of a memorable test only to see two middle-order collapses and a lack of bite in their bowling attack prove the difference.

This week, the heat will go on batsmen Scott Styris and Craig McMillan, while the indifferent form of pacemen Daryl Tuffey and Chris Martin will also be under the spotlight.

Worryingly, there were also injury concerns to deal with, as the in-form Jacob Oram battles a side strain and recovering fast bowler Shane Bond continues to feel aches and pains from his back injury.

Uncertainty surrounds their participation at Leicester, meaning Bond's chances of playing the second test may be dropping.

Captain Stephen Fleming was candid and upbeat at the test post-mortem and refused to believe his team were down and out in the three-test series.

"It's been a pretty emotional test in terms of being in it and dominating, being behind, then fighting our way back.

"Today was a pretty tough day as we tried most things," Fleming said.

"We've got a good week where we need to reinforce the good things we did but pick up the areas we weren't happy with.

"Having a game is the best way to do it. Get back on the horse, turn up to Headingley knowing the series is still alive and it'll be a close series either way."

Confidence players Styris and McMillan notably failed to fire at the pivotal spots of four and five in both innings, contributing 10 runs between them as Mark Richardson bravely held up one end.

Styris bowled well on the final day with some reverse swing but McMillan, playing with a cracked bone in his little finger, will be anxious to get in the runs at Leicester as opener Michael Papps waits in reserve.

"It doesn't matter who the individuals are, but as a team we're looking at where we fell short.

"As a middle order we got outplayed so the combination we use is important," Fleming said.

New Zealand's bowling strikeforce Tuffey and Martin were outshone by England speedsters Stephen Harmison and Simon Jones.

Tuffey and Martin both took a wicket apiece to reduce England to 35 for two yesterday but struggled to cause any more mayhem as both lacked their form of the New Zealand summer.

Spinner Daniel Vettori bowled over the wicket into footmarks for 25 overs, had some unlucky moments, but looked unlikely to spin the tourists to victory.

"We were thereabouts but they combated that very well.

"You need to acknowledge there were a couple of balls that went past the bat, a couple of half chances but we needed to grab them on a day like this," Fleming said.

"It took a pretty good effort from England to do it which is one thing we can look at positively."

The positives for New Zealand were the 13 hour vigil from Richardson, who was a close second to debutante Andrew Strauss for man of the match, Oram's allround contribution, Brendon McCullum's 96 at No 3 and Nathan Astle's 64 and 49 coming after knee surgery and while battling flu.

- NZPA