Tremlett impressive for England Lions

Seam bowler Chris Tremlett made England selectors take note as he underlined his credentials for an international return as he shined for England Lions against the New Zealand Tourists on Friday.

The Hampshire bowler had suffered a difficult time during the winter with injuries and, despite impressing in three Tests against India last summer, looked like he had fallen out of favour within the England camp.

But with Matthew Hoggard and Steve Harmison having been dropped during the recent series in New Zealand, competition for places has intensified ahead of next week's first Test against the Kiwis.

And given an opportunity to face the tourists for the England Lions at the Rose Bowl this week, Tremlett looked the most accomplished of the seamers attempting to attract the selectors' attention.

He claimed two early wickets to leave the Kiwis, playing their final warm-up match before the start of the npower Test series, struggling on 47 for three in reply to the Lions' first-innings 280.

Tremlett then returned with the second new ball to dismiss all-rounder Jacob Oram as New Zealand reached 261 for nine before the close of the second day.

Aaron Redmond looked to have done enough to secure a Test debut at Lord's next week with an unbeaten 139.

While Tremlett flourished, Yorkshire seamer Hoggard struggled to make the same impact in front of watching selector James Whitaker as he seeks to add to his 67 caps.

However he did at least manage to rescue a frustrating day with three late wickets with the second new ball.

Given the first new ball at the start of the day, Hoggard was outbowled by emerging Durham seamer Graham Onions, who claimed a wicket with his second ball when he earned an lbw verdict against opener Jamie How.

Onions' early breakthrough was followed up by Tremlett, who was brought into the attack as a replacement for Hoggard and tempted Jamie Marshall into fending a short ball straight to Luke Wright at short leg.

Tremlett also induced Ross Taylor, New Zealand's best batsman against England during the winter, into edging behind for five.

While the other members of the top order may be struggling for runs before Lord's, Redmond showed a determined application to hit his fifth first-class century.

He batted all day to reach his highest score and shared a 77-run stand with Brendon McCullum which threatened to put the tourists firmly in control.

But with McCullum, who is leading the side in place of injured captain Daniel Vettori, in sight of his half-century he was involved in a mix-up over a quick single and was run out by Michael Carberry's direct hit.

Dejected after running out his side's leading player, Redmond made amends by reaching his own half-century and then survived being hit on the helmet by a hostile short ball from Tremlett.

He showed great resilience to recover from that shock to reach a superb century, which included 17 boundaries, having been dropped on 97 after giving a regulation catch to Graeme Swann at second slip off Onions.

He went on to surpass his previous best first-class score of 135 and put New Zealand on course for a first innings lead.

Hoggard had to wait until the 85th over for his first success when Jeetan Patel edged to second slip. He followed up by removing Tim Southee and Iain O'Brien to leave the tourists trailing by 19 runs.