At the interval, brought forward because of bad weather, only 17 overs had been possible on a rain-marred day.

Michael Papps, called up into the team after Craig McMillan was ruled out with a broken finger, was 20 not out but had been dropped twice.

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming, who moved down to number three so Papps could open, was two not out.

Saggers was only playing after Simon Jones was ruled out Thursday for this match, and the third and final Test at Trent Bridge, with a foot injury.

England might have been in an even stronger position had not Papps been dropped by both Mark Butcher and Graham Thorpe.

Papps, on 15 edged fast bowler Stephen Harmison only for Butcher, diving forward at fourth slip, to just fail to cling on to the low catch with New Zealand 20 without loss.

He had added just five more runs to his total when he edged local hero Matthew Hoggard at comfortable height only for Butcher's Surrey team-mate Thorpe to floor the third-slip chance.

England captain Michael Vaughan, back in place of the retired Nasser Hussain after missing the seven-wicket first Test victory at Lord's with a knee injury, won the toss and chose to field first on his home ground.

The dark conditions overhead usually assist swing bowlers at Headingley while England were also looking to exploit any moisture in the pitch.

Obdurate left-hander Richardson, who ground out 93 and 101 at Lord's, had a lucky break when on 13 his inside edge off Harmison struck short leg Andrew Strauss on the helmet before the fieldsman had a chance to react.

But Saggers, England's fourth bowler, made the breakthrough soon afterwards with a full and swinging delivery that Richardson could not keep out.

It was a storybook start for the 32-year-old seamer, who was called up into the squad earlier this week after James Anderson withdrew with a heel injury.

Saggers's only previous Test was against Bangladesh at Chittagong during the off-season tour where he took three for 62 in the match.