Saggers strikes after late call-up
LONDON, England -- England paceman Martin Saggers struck with his first test delivery on home turf on Thursday, bowling New Zealand opener Mark Richardson for 13 at Headingley.
After Richardson's 93 and 101 at Lord's this was the wicket England needed as it sought a series-clinching second victory in a row in the three-match contest.
But it was the only highlight on a rain-interrupted day as New Zealand wound up 41-1 by the close -- Saggers playing as a late replacement for injured Simon Jones.
Paceman Jones was ruled out of the rest of the series with a suspected stress fracture of his left foot.
The Glamorgan player, who spent 17 months out of action after suffering cruciate knee ligament damage against Australia, had only returned to the team four months ago.
He was sent for a scan on Wednesday and England officials said he would be rested for this test and the third match at Trent Bridge starting June 10.
"The scan showed evidence that there is the potential for Simon to develop a stress fracture in the same bone that he suffered a stress fracture in during the 1998 season," the England and Wales Cricket Board said in a statement.
"As a preventative measure, Simon will be rested from the next two test matches and his return to cricket will be dependent on the time it takes for his symptoms to heal."
Although Saggers made his test debut against Bangladesh at Chittagong in November, this was his first appearance in England and he celebrated it with a wicket maiden.
Team captain Michael Vaughan called on him to bowl after Matthew Hoggard, Steve Harmison and Andrew Flintoff had failed to break the opening partnership.
At 33-0, however, Saggers did the damage with his first ball and Richardson, who top scored in New Zealand's seven-wicket loss at Lord's, was dismissed for 13.
In the next over, Graham Thorpe dropped a routine catch at third slip when Michael Papps thick edged a ball from Hoggard. The opener had already been dropped at gully by Mark Butcher off Steve Harmison after he had made 15.
The score had moved on to 36 when rain returned to force the players off the field after 17 overs.
They returned twice more but bad light and rain allowed only two more overs. Opener Michael Papps went into the second day 24 not out and captain Stephen Fleming had made three.
