England travel to Napier today in much better heart than when thy travelled to Wellington a week ago.  The difference a week and type of wicket make in cricket is immense, and England will now feel they have the upper hand for the deciding Test match on Friday. 

It was a bold decision by the management to leave out the two senior fast bowlers, Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard, and to bring in some fresh legs in Stuart Broad and James Anderson; the new pace attack worked wonders for Michael Vaughan, admittedly on a wicket that had more help for the bowlers than the previous wicket at Hamilton.  Both Broad and Anderson have had lots of plaudits these last few days, rightly so, for the extra pace and energy that they have brought in to the pace attack.  Let’s hope the pair of them can again support Ryan Sidebottom and provide us with a winning platform this week. 

There has also been a lot of conjecture about whether or not the two fast bowlers who have been left out will play again at this level.  I would certainly not write these two off and I know from talking to Steve during these past few days that he is disappointed with his form, but he still has a massive desire to bowl fast with the Three Lions on his chest; watch out for him hitting the ground running for Durham in April with the aim of bowling genuinely quick and getting his Test place back. 

The batting once again did not make a massive score between them this last week, but it will certainly be expected on a flat Napier wicket for somebody to get a big score this time around.  I am sure the game plan will be: let’s get a big score under our belts and then try and exert some pressure on the under performing New Zealand batting side.  It is going to be an intriguing last five days in New Zealand.

Over in Dubai, Andrew Flintoff continues his rehabilitation with the Lancashire team where he scored a very useful 39 against Essex a couple of days ago and today he will get his first few overs under his belt in a competitive match for the first time since his last ankle operation.

Good luck to both Fred and the England team over the next few days.