Simon Doull, New Zealand's leading strike bowler for the past three years, will miss the second Test against England starting today. Doull lost his fitness battle after undergoing micro-surgery on the knee he injured in New Zealand's match against Hampshire nine days ago.

Opener Matthew Bell has been drafted into the New Zealand team, who need to win at Lord's to square the four-test series. England will field the same side that won the first Test at Edgbaston by seven wickets.

Bell is to open the batting, with Roger Twose dropping down the order after two ducks at Edgbaston. Bell has scored only 41 runs in six Test innings and has a highest score of 20 on the current tour.

"He's the best option we've got available at the moment," said coach Steve Rixon. "He's a quick learner and he's very excited at the prospect of playing at the home of cricket."

New Zealand took a first innings lead of 100 in Birmingham but still managed to lose after England night-watchman Alex Tudor hit an unbeaten 99 in the second innings.

"Both sides can play better than that," said New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming. "The next Test is very important for us now, because we can't afford to go two down in the series."

England have given a further chance to their former captain Alec Stewart despite his evident lack of confidence in the first Test. Stewart will derive greater optimism from his Test record at Lord's, where he has scored 1,031 runs, at an average of 51.55.

He has the full backing of his successor as captain, Nasser Hussain. "Alec's a good player who's played well for England over the years," Hussain said. "It couldn't be better set up for him. Don't be surprised if he goes out and gets a hundred."

Hussain believes the pitch will be much better than the Edgbaston strip and wants his team to demonstrate a new consistency by building on the victory there.

"It looks a good surface, but there'll still be plenty in it for the bowlers. It always swings here," he said. "What we need to learn about this team is consistency, which is an area we've not been good at in the past."

Despite a perceived lack of interest in the series following England's failure in the World Cup, almost all tickets have been sold for the first three days.