Luke can be top order star, insists the skipper

Luke Wright has been identified as a big star in the making by both England one-day captain Paul Collingwood and New Zealand coach John Bracewell.

Wright (below) is set to open the batting at Old Trafford tonight and throughout the five one-day matches against the Kiwis, which start at Chester-le-Street on Sunday.

And England hope that his explosive batting can provide a Brendon McCullum-style start to their innings.

So far, the 23-year-old Sussex all-rounder has had more success batting in the middle order for his country than when opening.

But Collingwood and Co have seen enough of him in 12 matches to realise the youngster has huge potential.

Collingwood said: "The one thing that stood out to me in New Zealand last winter was not so much his batting, but his bowling when I gave him the last over of the tied game at Napier. It was a real pressure situation with only seven runs needed, and he enjoyed it.

"When you get a character like that you know you're on to a winner. Luke can pretty much do everything - he's an all-round cricketer, which is what you want in a one-day side. He hits the ball very hard and can get it through at a good pace when he's bowling."

Bracewell also sees Wright as a danger man. He said: "Luke is almost a 360 degree player, able to hit the ball in the air all around the ground. That gives England another dimension."

Alastair Cook will be Wright's opening partner in the 50-over matches but the Essex left-hander is not a Twenty20 regular so Ian Bell could step up tonight.