England (8/11) face New Zealand (6/1) in the first Test at Lord's on Thursday (May 15th) knowing that a convincing series win is expected ahead of South Africa's visit later in the summer.

A side strain has put paid to talismanic all-rounder Andrew Flintoff's hopes of returning to a team which came from behind to win the Test series in New Zealand 2-1 earlier in the year. But gutsy middle-order man Paul Collingwood will play after receiving a painkilling injection in an attempt to nullify a persistent shoulder injury

Collingwood, 7-1 to top score for England in the match, has fought off considerable competition to become a permanent fixture in the Test side over the last two years and is England's one-day captain.

He said of the injury: "I guess it's the stress you put the shoulder under and we have played a fair bit of cricket since the time I did it in Sri Lanka. This is the last injection I can have in this particular area, so hopefully I can keep it strong and manage it from now on."

Captain Michael Vaughan has called for England's batsmen to fulfil their potential and play "fluently" - the home side are 2/5 to build a platform strong enough to take a first innings lead, while the Black Caps are 7/4 to hold the advantage at halfway.

Vaughan himself is in need of runs in the Test arena, having passed 50 only once during the recent series in New Zealand. The Yorkshire opener is 11/8 to keep the critics at bay with a half century in this match and 5/1 to reach three figures.

England's bowling set-up has undergone some major alterations since the four-pronged pace attack of Matthew Hoggard, Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff helped win back the Ashes in 2005. With the possible exception of Hoggard - who has been named in a 12 man squad - none of the aforementioned are expected to start at Lord's due to either form or injury difficulties.

Nottinghamshire's Ryan Sidebottom has emerged as the new spearhead, bagging 24 wickets against the Kiwis this spring after breaking into the side last summer. He is 13/8 to take more New Zealand scalps than any of his team-mates in this series, with spinner Monty Panesar available at 7/2.

The tourists, who were joined late by five players involved in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), have appeared solid on English shores remaining unbeaten so far in several warm-up matches.

Big hitting Brendan McCullum - who made the highest score yet in recognised 20/20 cricket with a knock of 158 for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the opening match of the IPL - is 5/1 to translate his limited overs form onto the Test stage by registering the most runs for New Zealand over the three matches.

Young seamer Tim Southee, who marked his arrival in international cricket with 5-55 during March's third Test against England in Napier, has been tipped by legendary Kiwi all-rounder Sir Richard Hadlee as a future star and is 4/1 to end up as the series' top wicket taker for his team, with fellow pace man Chris Martin leading the way at 5/2.

Can resurgent England crush the Kiwis?