Tremlett in the frame

9:27am Saturday 10th May 2008

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CHRIS Tremlett emerged from a disappointing winter to press his claims for an England recall with an eye-catching display for the Lions against New Zealand.

The Hampshire seamer endured a frustrating winter with injuries and, despite impressing in three Tests against India last summer, appeared to have slipped back in the England pecking order.

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.