Mike Atherton returns to Test cricket on his home ground of Old Trafford and Mark Butcher takes over from the injured Nasser Hussain as captain as England hope for another new beginning against New Zealand today.

New Zealand's first-ever victory at Lord's two weeks ago brought them level at one-one in the four-match series. Hussain has been ruled out with a finger injury sustained while fielding in that Lord's Test. His two predecessors, Alec Stewart and Atherton, will both play in a batting line-up also featuring the return of Graeme Hick, who has been recalled for the eighth time. Hussain said yesterday that he was 99 per cent certain of being fit for the final Test at the Oval in a fortnight's time.

"We've just lost the last Test match and it's how you react to these things that is important," he said.

"I would have liked the challenge to come back at the New Zealanders personally.

"But it's two weeks until the Oval now and I'm sure 99 per cent that I'll be fit for that."

He said that England would field six batsmen at Old Trafford, with wicket-keeper Chris Read batting at seven and the two spinners, Phil Tufnell and Peter Such, in the side.

With Andy Caddick also a certain starter, there will be room for only one of the three other specialist pace bowlers in the squad, Dean Headley, Chris Silverwood and Alan Mullally.

"It's a two-spinner wicket," said Butcher, who will open the batting with Atherton, ahead of his Surrey team-mate Stewart.

Of the captaincy, Butcher said: "It's come as a bit of a shock. I try not to have too many theories, but just to be on top of things." He has also pledged to cut down on the sledging, or verbal abuse, that was a feature of the Lord's test.

David Graveney, England's chairman of selectors, said the match referee Peter van der Merwe had spoken to the New Zealand players after that match.

"I've made the point that there's no place in cricket for giving a player a volley of abuse as he's leaving the pitch." New Zealand, buoyant after beating England in England for the first time since 1986, now hope to add a first victory at Old Trafford, where they have lost two Tests and drawn three.

They must again do without pace bowler Simon Doull, who has flown home after suffering a recurrence of the knee injury that caused him to miss the second Test Coach Steve Rixon said after yesterday's practice that having seen the wicket, he was considering bringing Canterbury all-rounder Chris Harris into the side for the first time in the series.

"It's very crusty and will turn, so there'll be less work for the seamers," he said.

"We are a good side now and can beat anyone on our day. People are saying that England have played badly, but don't underestimate the pressure we've applied to them."

England (from): Mark Butcher (captain), Michael Atherton, Alec Stewart, Graham Thorpe, Graeme Hick, Mark Ramprakash, Chris Read, Andy Caddick, Peter Such, Phil Tufnell, Dean Headley, Chris Silverwood, Alan Mullally.

New Zealand (from): Stephen Fleming (captain), Matthew Horne, Matthew Bell, Nathan Astle, Roger Twose, Craig McMillan, Adam Parore, Daniel Vettori, Chris Cairns, Dion Nash, Geoff Allott, Chris Harris.