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Alec Stewart

At last he got his front foot moving at Lord's like an England opener again, but as England have to accommodate two specialist spinners and three seamers, the obvious solution is for him to keep wicket. He kept in Surrey's recent match against Hampshire for the first time this championship season and was taking Saqlain and Salisbury well by the end.

Chris Read

He is England's long-term choice but is not good enough yet to bat at seven let alone six in a decisive Test, and too inexperienced to keep to two specialist spinners. His stumping at Edgbaston rebounded off his knees and a catch off Tufnell at Lord's off his gloves. Should be selected but left out of the final XI.

Graeme Hick

He has never dominated at No 3 in Tests as he has in one-dayers when - like Neil Fairbrother or Michael Bevan - he has had no time to freeze. But he played two fine innings down the order last winter, when again he had no time to freeze, so one last chance for a front-foot driver who might use his feet to dominate Daniel Vettori.

Mark Ealham

He is less likely than Dominic Cork to be a spectacular reverse-swinging all-rounder but a surer bet for a modest contribution which doesn't upset the apple cart. He averages 29 for Kent in the championship and has taken 23 wickets at 19. In eight Tests for England he has averaged 21 and taken 17 wickets at 28.

Peter Such

He took five for 81 in his last bowling effort for England in Sydney, and 13 wickets in Essex's championship match at Old Trafford earlier this season. That guarantees him the off-spinner's place ahead of Robert Croft, although he is not bowling his best and has just been mauled at Northampton. England record in 10 Tests: 33 wickets at 34 runs each.

Alan Mullally

He is a big candidate to be dropped from England's final XI, if not before. He still cannot get in close enough to the stumps to swing the ball into right-handers. England would like the rough from his footmarks for Such to bowl into - New Zealand have no off-spinner but will have to make do with Geoff Allott's.