I'm looking forward to this series, partially because it seems like we haven't had any cricket for a while, partially because it will make a nice change from the frenetic T20 and partially because I want to see how far this current England side have moved forwards since the last series against the Kiwi's.

I don't consider New Zealand to be particularly strong opponents and I don't think that's being unfair to New Zealand, they're a side shorn of a lot of experienced players and have many inexperienced and unproven players who are just starting out in their game. Some of them look very promising, particularly the young fast bowler and it will be fascinating to see not only how he adapts and uses the English conditions, but how he adapts and uses the slope at Lords. Lords will prove a challenge for him as it does many fast bowlers who've never played there.

New Zealand in my opinion are very well lead. I've been particularly impressed with Vettori's steady progress, not just in terms of his bowling but in terms of his whole game, bowling, batting, fielding and Captaincy. The influence of Fleming is clear to see, and it's probably one of the reasons I like Vettori's style as I liked Flemings as well, who I think, in his time was the best Captain in world cricket.

It's a great shame New Zealnd don't have a larger pool of players to choose from in terms of World Class and quality, as with Vettori's leadership they could make real progress in the World rankings.

So for my money this series is about how far England have moved their game forwards, in all aspects of the game and how a well lead Kiwi side, but with a lot of inexperience cope when England apply some pressure to them in their own conditions. The battle is about Englands bowlers against New Zealands inexperienced batting lineup and I beleive that if England apply enough pressure, New Zealands batting will repeatedly collapse. I'm not concerned about Englands batting, I know what they're capable of doing if they knuckle down and graft hard enough and New Zealand simply don't have the bowling firepower to unduly worry them.

For me it's crunch time for Vaughan and Strauss as I don't beleive that side should contain both of them, it's one or the other for me, particularly when Flintoff comes back.