Michael Vaughan leads England into the first Test of the summer at Lord's today desperate to avoid another bloody nose as captain and batsman.

Vaughan's men lost the opening match of the series in Sri Lanka before Christmas and failed to claw their way back off the ropes. Then, having been billed as overwhelming favourites to floor New Zealand three months later, they were forced to take a standing count in Hamilton, losing by 189 runs, before winning the last two rounds in Wellington and Napier.

But both those Tests against the combative Kiwis could have gone the other way and now England are anxious to lead from the front in the season's first npower series.

"We have to start well and try to get on top," said Vaughan, who is anxious to get back on the front foot himself after a winter without a hundred. "We want to be a bit more explosive when we bat."

The career records of the respective top six batsmen suggest New Zealand may as well throw in the towel even before they start. Every member of England's batting unit averages above 40 at Test level and, between them, can boast 58 centuries in five-day cricket.

In the opposite corner, the Kiwis are sending out two debut-makers in Aaron Redmond and Daniel Flynn, none of the others average more than 35 and they have managed only three hundreds so far through Ross Taylor (one) and Brendon McCullum (two), who has been pushed up the order two places from No7.

There are, of course, lies, damn lies and statistics.

"We aren't blessed with the stars of other sides but that has been a trait of New Zealand cricket since it started," said captain Daniel Vettori, who plays at Lord's despite an injured spinning finger which he admits is in less than perfect shape. "If we compete somewhere near our potential we can win the series."

Vettori's team showed in their country that talk of a Black Caps victory is far from fanciful, whatever the record books say. And Vaughan has no plans to underestimate them.

"They've got explosive players and a very powerful middle order, the bowling unit is very disciplined and they're a very good fielding side," said England's skipper. "They probably lack a bit of experience at the top of the order, and that's an area we will try to expose.

"But, generally, New Zealand are a very workmanlike side and a very dangerous side if you allow them to play their way. We have to make sure we put them under as much pressure as possible.

"Tests are generally won by the side that start the best. We started pretty well in the last two games in New Zealand [conveniently forgetting his team were four for three in Napier].

"But we had to get out of some tricky positions in Napier, and it's a good sign to see a team do that and to come from one down to win a series.

"Now, hopefully, we can take a lead in this series and really dominate."

Workmanlike, as used by Vaughan when describing New Zealand, may not sound very flattering. But Vaughan was aiming to give praise, rather than cause offence, and Vettori had no complaints.

"We are a relatively new side and we are finding our own identity, so I take that as a compliment," said the left-arm spinner and world's best No8 batsman (he averages 41 since 2003, with two centuries).

"For us to succeed at this level we have to be near the top of our game all the time, so if we've got guys who are prepared to work hard then we give ourselves a chance.

"We need to play exactly the same way as we did when beating England in Hamilton. That was a complete performance.

"In the second and third Tests we were pretty good for 90 per cent of them but we let it slip in the other 10 per cent and couldn't catch up."

There is no doubt that England should win, and win well this time. If they don't, there are plenty of players on the fringe of the side pushing hard for a chance.

Rob Key, Ravi Bopara, Owais Shah and Luke Wright are putting pressure on the top order while Chris Tremlett, Graham Onions and Simon Jones - if he can stay fit for a decent period - will keep challenging not only this week's attack but also the recently discarded Matthew Hoggard and Steve Harmison. And then, of course, there is Andrew Flintoff.

For the moment, though, England's top order looks settled and the bowling department has been given a vote of confidence.

"Stuart Broad has only played three games but he seems to have a lot about him and he learns fast," said Vaughan.

"Jimmy Anderson is exciting. His goal, as he has said himself, is to be more consistent. And Ryan Sidebottom is undoubtedly the bowler of the year, not just in England but probably around the world.

"Add in Monty Panesar and a bit of Paul Collingwood and we've got a decent mix."