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N Zealand survives England attack

Martin Saggers took a wicket with his first ball in his home England debut but New Zealand survived a weather-affected opening day of the second Test at Headingley without further loss on Thursday.

At stumps New Zealand were 41 for one after England captain Michael Vaughan won the toss and chose to field.

Michael Papps, dropped twice, was 24 not out and captain Stephen Fleming three not out when bad light forced the last of several stoppages.

Kent paceman Saggers, 32, ended the day with figures of one wicket for four runs off two overs after dismissing first Test centurion Mark Richardson.

His one previous Test was against Bangladesh at Chittagong in November where he had match figures of three for 62.

Saggers was only playing after Simon Jones was ruled out on Thursday for this match and the third and final Test at Trent Bridge, with a foot injury.

He had been a late call-up to the squad on Tuesday after Lancashire fast bowler James Anderson withdrew with a heel problem.

Saggers, describing his wicket-taking delivery, said: "I just wanted to make sure it was a ball he [Richardson] could play at."

Overlooked during England's 3-0 series win in the Caribbean, Saggers said he had never given up on his international career. "I didn't want to be a one-Test wonder, I wanted to get into double figures at least."

Patience and perseverance have been the twin hallmarks of Saggers's career.

A minor counties player with his native Norfolk, Saggers did not make his first-class debut until 1996 with Durham, after trials with several other counties, before moving to Kent three years later.

He was still working for an architectural firm at an age when most players were well into their cricket careers but Saggers insisted: "Even when I was 24, I always believed I could do it."

Rain and bad light meant just 19 overs out of a scheduled 90 were bowled and Saggers said: "Nineteen overs with the new ball is not enough when the ball is swinging. Headingley has always been a ground that favours bowlers more than batters, especially when there is cloud cover."

However, New Zealand all-rounder Jacob Oram said: "If the weather forecast is the way it is supposed to be, this was the worst day and we've almost got through scot-free."

During the 79 minutes play that was possible, Papps was dropped by Mark Butcher and Graham Thorpe.

On 15, he edged fast bowler Stephen Harmison but Butcher, diving forward at fourth slip, failed to hold the difficult, low catch.
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