Nelson's Column: England let off the hook

Had England lost to a ten (sometimes nine) man New Zealand side, not thought to be one of the greatest in the world, on a wicket which suited the home side's attack, it would perhaps have gone down as one of the most humiliating defeats in their history.

In the end, Michael Vaughan's men cruised to a famous six-wicket victory and should now go on to clinch the series at Trent Bridge next week. But all is far from sweet in the make-up and performance of the side.

Just a few questions that have arisen: Why does Monty Panesar only look a world-beater on helpful surfaces? Is it too soon for Stuart Broad as a bowler? Does Ian Bell ever score big runs under pressure? Can the horribly out of touch Paul Collingwood really justify a place in the top six? Is Tim Ambrose proving to be another false dawn as a batsman-wicket-keeper?

New Zealand will be pig sick. They should have killed England off on Sunday, but bottled it in the face of Monty's magnificence. England have got out of jail and they are lucky Australia don't arrive for another year.