Nelson's Column: Trouble for England

Is anyone else starting to worry? Despite bowling twice in very helpful conditions and batting under blue skies, England cannot claim a moral victory in the first Test.

Even if the weather had allowed the hosts a second innings, they may have been chasing 300 against the world-class off-spin of Daniel Vettori, who took five wickets in the first innings. There's no saying England would have got there on a wearing surface.

Though none of the bowlers performed poorly, the sameness of England's pace attack is a concern. There's no serious speed and, once the new ball had been seen off, New Zealand looked fairly comfortable.

Then there's the perennial underachievement of the top six as a unit. Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook failed to turn fifties into hundreds in glorious conditions and the middle order was blown away. Michael Vaughan's ton, supported by the plucky Stuart Broad, rescued England from a humiliating first-innings deficit.

If I was in the New Zealand camp, I would be quietly confident ahead of the second Test.

What do you think? Have England got problems or do you see them proving too strong in the end for an inexperienced New Zealand side? Send in your views using the boxes below.