Harmison and Hoggard Axed for Second Test

England have reacted to their humiliating defeat in the opening Test against New Zealand by dropping Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard for the second Test. Fast bowler Harmison has made way for Stuart Broad for the match at the Basin Reserve, while Jimmy Anderson comes in for seamer Hoggard in a new-look attack.

"It was a very tough call," said captain Michael Vaughan. "We had a gut feeling that we just needed to make a change. We felt the attack just needed a bit of a shake-up and it's a great opportunity for Jimmy and Broady to come in and try to establish themselves at this level.

"I hope Hoggard and Harmison really fight to get their places back because that's going to create a healthy environment as well. It's a very tough call on Hoggy but we've gone with that and hopefully it will be the right decision."

Harmison struggled to maintain a pace above 80mph in the opening Test and claimed match figures of one for 121 from his 27 overs. Hoggard claimed one for 122 in his 26 overs, although he improved during their second innings. It is the first time the duo have been dropped since helping England regain the Ashes in 2005, and leaves the tourists with an inexperienced seam attack of Ryan Sidebottom, Anderson and Broad - who have just 32 caps between them.

"It certainly looks very exciting, even if it is a little bit lacking in experience, but I think they have enough talent to take them through and put the New Zealand batsmen under a lot of pressure," Vaughan said.

The changes follow successive Tests in which England's batsmen have failed to deliver, being dismissed for 81 against Sri Lanka in Galle and for 110 in Hamilton. Asked whether England had considered revamping the batting line-up, Vaughan added: "Not really ... a change was talked about but we thought they deserved another opportunity to try to put it right this week."

Lancashire seamer Anderson claimed two for 95 from 38 overs when he played for Auckland against Wellington in New Zealand's domestic championship last week to gain match practice, while 21-year-old Broad has played only one Test - against Sri Lanka in Colombo last December when he was brought in to replace the injured Hoggard.

England team: M Vaughan (Yorkshire, capt), A Cook (Essex), A Strauss (Middlesex), K Pietersen (Hampshire), I Bell (Warwickshire), P Collingwood (Durham), T Ambrose (Warwickshire, wkt), S Broad (Nottinghamshire), R Sidebottom (Nottinghamshire), J Anderson (Lancashire), M Panesar (Northamptonshire).