VINCE VOWS TO KICK ON IN NZ

JAMES VINCE says he needs to make bowlers work harder to take his wicket after getting himself out several times in the Ashes.

But the No.3 batsman believes he has made enough “good progress” in the Ashes to be able to kick on in New Zealand and become an England regular. Vince knows he will need at least one big score in Auckland or Christchurch to keep his Test match dream alive next summer, but reckons he is a better player than in his first spell in the side.

“I think I made good progress from when I last played,” said Vince (below), 26, who is now playing for the Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash. “There are still areas I’m trying to improve on and need to iron out.

“But I feel I made good progress and, if I can get a big score, I can give myself that confidence to kick on and become a regular.

“I got myself out a few times, and it’s about trying to limit the amount of times it’s a soft dismissal, and make the bowlers work hard for my wicket.”

He was up against a highcalibre attack out in Australia and has revealed that Josh Hazlewood was the bowler he rated highest and whom he fell to four times out of nine.

He added: “They were absolutely the best attack I’d faced. They all had little moments when they’d take the lead and put in a bit more effort.

“They were outstanding the whole trip, and Hazlewood was toughest, because he gave you nothing out of area to hit.”