NEWCASTLE'S Tim Ambrose completed an excellent first day on the job by claiming his first Test scalp on debut for England against New Zealand at Seddon Park, Hamilton, yesterday.

The boy from Bobs Farm received his blue Test cap, bearing the English emblem of three lions and a crown, in a presentation by England captain Michael Vaughan before the game.

The 24-year-old former Merewether High School student was part of the action shortly afterwards when Vaughan lost the toss and New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori elected to bat.

England's bowlers restricted the Kiwis to 6-282 at stumps on day one, and Ambrose's glovework was called upon in the second-last over of the day, which was bowled by fiery left-armer Ryan Sidebottom.

Sidebottom was bowling to Brendan McCullum, who had smashed two sixes and five fours in his 51 runs off 54 balls, when the batsman chased a wide delivery outside off stump.

The ball clipped the toe of the bat and sailed through to Ambrose, who completed his first dismissal in Test cricket.

Just as impressive was Ambrose's clean sheet on the sundries ledger after he prevented any potential byes slipping past him.

The England wicketkeeping job has been a revolving door in recent years. Six keepers have been used in the three different forms of the game in the past five years.

Papua New Guinea-born keeper Geraint Jones and Chris Read shared the duties when England toured Australia in 2006-07.

Read replaced Jones, then Matt Prior took over in Test matches and veteran Paul Nixon was the first-choice keeper in one-day games because of his powerful batting.

Ambrose, who started his first-class career with Sussex in 2001, had to wait four years to qualify as an England player. But finger and back injuries then hampered him in 2004 and 2005.

He moved from Sussex to Warwickshire in 2006 and was selected in the England A side last year.

His dream moved another step closer to reality when he and Phil Mustard were picked as the keepers to tour New Zealand.

Mustard got the job in the five-match one-day series, but it was widely speculated that Ambrose was going to get the job for the Test matches, so his parents, Sally and Ray who still live at Bobs Farm booked flights to New Zealand.

Several of Tim's friends from Nelson Bay, where he played his junior cricket, were also planning to join the Ambrose family in New Zealand to support him.