England have rested Ryan Sidebottom and promoted Ian Bell to opening batsman for this evening’s NatWest International Twenty20 match against New Zealand at Old Trafford.

Ravi Bopara, the in-form Essex all-rounder, will make his international debut in the shortest form of the sport, while wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose make his first England start in a limited-overs match. Ambrose, who replaces wicketkeeper-batsman Phil Mustard, is set to bat at number seven in the order, one place above Bopara.

England have otherwise stuck to the line-up that claimed an emphatic 50-run triumph over New Zealand in Christchurch in the sides' most recent Twenty20 tie.

New Zealand’s plans were disrupted by the loss of Jacob Oram, their key all-rounder, who pulled up with an injury to his left hamstring in the warm-up and was hastily replaced by Peter Fulton.

Jeetan Patel, the off spinner, also missed out on Black Caps' starting line-up with the tourist side preferring an attack comprising captain Daniel Vettori, seamers Michael Mason and Mark Gillespie and all-rounder Scott Styris.