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Chris Tremlett does not expect to win a call-up for the first Test against New Zealand despite an eye-catching display for the England Lions at the Rose Bowl.

The Hampshire fast bowler played all three home Tests against India last summer but has slipped down the pecking order after being left out of the squad that toured Sri Lanka and then withdrawing from the tour of New Zealand earlier this year with a side strain.

England have since axed Matthew Hoggard and Steve Harmison and Ryan Sidebottom, Stuart Broad and James Anderson have impressed.

But as the selectors prepare to name their squad for the first Test at Lord's on Sunday, Tremlett produced a timely display to claim 3-58 as New Zealand reached 261-9 at the close of the second day.

Hoggard claimed three wickets with the second new ball but Tremlett was the pick of the Lions' attack on his home ground.

He dismissed James Marshall when Hamish's twin brother fended a short delivery to Luke Wright at short leg.

And after replacing Hoggard he accounted for Ross Taylor, New Zealand's best batsman against England during the winter.

When he returned for a spell with the second new ball, Tremlett also had experienced left-hander Jacob Oram caught behind.

But he does not expect to hear his name when the squad is announced this weekend despite an impressive performance in front of watching selector James Whitaker.

"There's lots of competition with Jimmy Anderson, who is bowling well, Hoggy, Harmy and myself all looking for a place," admitted the 26-year-old.

"It's all about being consistent and keeping knocking on the door, but realistically I don't think I've got a chance of playing in the first Test because Freddie (Andrew Flintoff) might be back as well, so that's even more competition.

"We've got Matthew Hoggard here trying really hard to get his place back and everyone is fighting for places. There is great competition about but that's healthy for our team."

Tremlett's efforts at the start of the day helped reduce the tourists to 47-3, but an unbeaten 139 from opener Aaron Redmond helped them recover.

Redmond, who hit 22 fours, has almost certainly secured his place in New Zealand's line-up for the first Test and can start thinking about making his debut at Lord's.

He had to endure several spells of short-pitched bowling and was hit on the helmet by a hostile delivery from Tremlett before New Zealand reached the close 19 runs behind.

Redmond said: "Those boys bowled well and you really had to tough it out.

"I wanted to bat through the whole day and to do that is quite an achievement so I'm pretty pleased with that.

"My job is to set up the game for the bigger hitters and the guys with a few more shots so I was just determined to stay in and a bit of luck went my way."

England Lions bowling: Hoggard 20-6-41-3, Onions 18-8-45-2, Tremlett 17-0-58-3, Swann 18-4-55-0, Bopara 1-0-4-0, Wright 6-1-12-0, Rashid 10-2-37-0

8:16pm Friday 9th May 2008

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