By Jonathan Agnew BBC cricket correspondent

Chris Cairns has chosen Trent Bridge, his second cricketing home, as the ground on which to play his final Test for New Zealand.

The tourists must urgently hope their charismatic all-rounder can lift the flagging spirits of his team.

Like Nasser Hussain, Cairns hopes to bow out in style

This will be Cairns' 62nd Test in a career that has spanned 14 years.

Big hitting has been his trademark - his whirlwind innings at Lord's was a perfect example of this - and he holds the record for the number of sixes in Test cricket.

His batting average of 34 is good for an all-rounder, while his bowling record stands at 207 wickets at 29 runs each.

More important than all of that, though, is his standing in the team and it is that which Stephen Fleming, and the men he leaves behind, will miss most of all.

Looking at the way New Zealand bowled at Headingley, you feel they need a miracle to prevent England from completing a clean sweep here.

Daryl Tuffey looks sure to be dropped and Daniel Vettori is extremely unlikely to play because of his hamstring injury.

The spinner will be desperately missed by Fleming, not least because he has become the man the captain throws the ball to when he needs to restore control.

Without Vettori on the field, it is difficult to see who could fill that role, but at least Jacob Oram seems set to return despite a side strain and a broken finger.

I also liked the look of James Franklin at Leeds.

England are moving in the right direction under Michael Vaughan

Admittedly, this was only bowling at a single stump after the match had ended, but he looked to be a strapping left-armer who swung the ball.

He might well be included - and there's an opening for the shaggy-haired Kyle Mills as well.

While there is a rather chaotic feel to the New Zealand preparations, England move serenely on.

They have now won five of their last six Tests, and confidence is oozing from every pore.

There was even the lovely sight of Rod Marsh devoting time with Geraint Jones in the nets - remember that Marsh was furious when Jones was brought in at Chris Read's expense.

James Anderson has a chance of playing his first Test since before Christmas, and he needs to get his career moving in an upward direction again.

After an explosive start, in which he took 21 wickets in his first five Tests, the swing bowler has captured five in his last three games, and has been frustrated by injuries.

Nasser Hussain wrote recently that one of his failures as captain was his inability to 'get into Anderson's head'.

I gather he is not alone, making it all the more important that he grabs this opportunity, should it come along.