Michael Vaughan spoke of a new era in New Zealand but now, less than two months later, England will contemplate recalling two members of the old guard.

Vaughan's bold statement followed the even bolder decision to drop not only a hopelessly misfiring Steve Harmison but also the unexpectedly off-colour Matthew Hoggard in the wake of a humbling Test defeat in Hamilton.

While Hoggard looked unfortunate to lose his place, no one could argue against England's decision-making once young guns Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad helped to secure the wins in Wellington and Napier that gave captain Vaughan and coach Peter Moores the series success they desperately needed.

So, barring any late injuries, Vaughan will lead an unchanged side into next Thursday's First Test of a new battle against the Kiwis? Don't bank on it.

Andrew Flintoff's rapid return to peak form as a fast bowler puts one piece of temptation in the way of the selectors this weekend, while Hoggard's encouraging start to the season means there are two possible changes to a four-man attack at Lord's.

The Flintoff debate has been raging all week, with the man in question apparently doing everything in his power to make himself impossible to consider as a batsman and difficult to ignore as a bowler.

Playing for Lancashire against Durham at Old Trafford this week, he has been dismissed for nought and nought on consecutive days - facing only six balls in the process - and seven innings for the county have yielded just 68 runs. With form like that, if he plays for England next week then Vaughan's biggest call will be whether 'Super Fred' bats before or after Monty Panesar.

Flintoff's bowling, though, is back to somewhere near its best, as he underlined last night with figures of 6-5-7-3 against Durham.

What the England selectors must decide is whether - with only around 100 overs behind him after last October's fourth ankle operation - Flintoff is ready for five-day cricket.

There are arguments both ways but another Ashes-winning all-rounder, Ian Botham, summed up the safety-first approach by saying: "I would hold Fred back a bit. I would like him to be given time to get his confidence back; full confidence in his body and, more importantly, in that ankle."

In many ways, the tougher decision concerns Anderson and Hoggard. Anderson's Test career has been a startstop affair. Last summer against India, he was England's player of the series but, after one lukewarm performance in Sri Lanka, the axe fell again.

Now, having taken seven wickets during the series-levelling win at Wellington but then been disappointing in Napier, he is under threat once more with Hoggard bursting to win back his place.

The problem with Anderson is that he works in extremes. When the 25-year-old Lancastrian is good, he's very good. But once batsmen take a shine to him - like at Napier where tailender Tim Southee kept clobbering fours and sixes - there seems to be no defence. The selectors may decide to name Anderson and Hoggard in their Lord's squad and leave a final decision until the morning of the match.

Although it was the bowling department which suffered the shake-up in New Zealand, there are still question marks hanging over England's top six. Andrew Strauss and Ian Bell finally came good in Napier but both of them remain under the microscope, along with Vaughan and Paul Collingwood.

If and when Flintoff returns to the team as a No 6 all-rounder then Collingwood - at present occupying the last middle-order batting spot - will really feel the heat. And his confidence going into the summer's first series cannot be high after managing only six runs in four innings for Durham.

For the moment, England's top six looks settled - by name if not number. Vaughan wishes to return to No3, allowing Strauss to reform an opening partnership with Alastair Cook, and what the captain wants he usually gets.

There are other batsmen eager for a chance. By scoring 120 against New Zealand for England Lions yesterday, Luke Wright announced himself as one of the hopefuls.