1.   England, entering the match with just two fast bowlers, were lifted by that new ball pair after losing their first toss of the series.

2.   Jayasuriya said he too will field three seamers and the new ball pair of Chaminda Vaas and Dilhara Fernondo are assured of their place in the team.

3.   New Zealand chose three fast bowlers, with new ball pair Shane Bond and Daryl Tuffey joined by Ian Butler.

4.   The great new ball pair Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh hardly passed the bat and newcomer Corey Collymore fared little better.

5.   The veteran new ball pair of Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose are retained to lead the bowling attack once again.

6.   When the leg-spinners Stuart MacGill and Shane Warne replaced the new ball pair, run-scoring became freer and the batsmen played some confident strokes.

7.   New Zealand A new ball pair, Geoff Allott and Heath Davis, turned in impressive spells to cut through the England top order.

8.   The inclusion of Cummins will bolster the lower order batting and provide support to the new ball pair of Courtney Walsh and Ken Benjamin.