AFTER enjoying some fun in the sun in the West Indies this winter, it would be easy to assume that England simply have to turn up to win their forthcoming home series with New Zealand. Easy - but wrong.

While Michael Vaughan's side were busy recording their first Caribbean tour win for 36 years, the Black Caps were scrapping their way to a creditable 1-1 series draw against South Africa.

England might be eyeing South Africa's status as the second best side in the world following their winter exploits but, while the ICC's official rankings have them as low as fifth, the Kiwis have just as strong a claim to the role of Australia's challengers in waiting.

Three years ago, New Zealand travelled to Australia and held Steve Waugh's all-conquering side to a 0-0 draw that could have been even better had some rare bad weather not intervened.

They also enjoyed a 2-0 win over India last year and, with England struggling against both of those sides recently, today's First Test could herald one of the most keenly contested series for some time.

The New Zealand line-up might not be packed with household names, but it is full of committed, competitive cricketers that are spoiling for the kind of challenge England will pose them over the next month.

Stephen Fleming is probably the tourists' one true star and the left-hander gave them a massive boost by declaring himself fit to open the innings earlier this week.

Many commentators feel Fleming is the best Test captain in the world but, while his leadership skills are well-honed, it is his batting ability that England will most fear in the three-match series.

Fleming has garnered an average of almost 40 from his 82 previous Test appearances and, while today's game marks only the second time he has opened the batting, England will be aware of the need to remove him before he is given time to settle at the crease.

New Zealand's middle order might not be over-endowed with style, but it is packed with substance and the likes of Craig McMillan and Scott Styris are more than capable of exploiting the near perfect batting conditions expected at Lord's.

The tourists bat all the way to Daniel Vettori at number nine, and they might need to in the absence of leading fast bowler Shane Bond.

Bond's pace battle with Stephen Harmison was expected to be one of the highlights of the series, but the Kiwi is struggling with a stress fracture to his back and may not figure at all.

In his absence, much will rest on the shoulders of Daryl Tuffey and, while he is an able deputy, England will fancy their chances of making runs against a Black Caps attack lacking depth.

Shot-makers should dominate on a consistently reliable batting track, so the loss of Michael Vaughan is a particularly bitter blow to the home side.

With either Andrew Strauss or Paul Collingwood taking his place, England will be relying on some of their other Caribbean match-winners to bolster the batting.

Mark Butcher was England's most reliable batsman in the winter, while Graham Thorpe will be looking for a repeat of his match-winning hundred in the third Test and former captain Nasser Hussain will hope to justify his continued inclusion as he closes in on a 100th Test match appearance.

It wasn't England's batting that captured the headlines in the West Indies though - it was the tourists' bowling, with Harmison's 7-12 and Matthew Hoggard's hat-trick making waves.

The pace duo will be re-united again at Lord's and, with Simon Jones and the in-form James Anderson providing impressive back-up, England can boast a pace attack able to live with any in the world.

That alone gives considerable cause for optimism, but plenty of leading bowlers have come unstuck against the durable New Zealanders.

A three-Test series means there is little room for error, and gaining the upper hand ahead of trips to Headingley and Trent Bridge is likely to prove vital.

That much is easy to predict - but who will gain that upper hand isn't.