New Zealand arrived in England last week for a three-Test tour, with the series opener scheduled to start on May 20.

"Lord's (is) where we won the second Test last time (in 1999)," Cairns wrote in a column for The Sunday Telegraph newspaper. "Sometimes I feel England fall victim to their own institutions.

"I was desperate to have my name on the boards (at Lord's five years ago), and I took six for 77. Overseas players are hugely motivated at Lord's, and that is why I believe we will make a winning start."

Cairns, who has said he will retire from Test cricket after the England tour, added the New Zealand squad was one of the strongest he had experienced.

"New Zealand cricket never gets the recognition it deserves, but I'm certain that's about to change," he said.

"Often we've toured with players who are learning, but this trip is about the here and now. It's the first I've been on where most of the squad are match-winners.

"We have such an exciting squad, starting with Stephen Fleming. He's a quality batsman and has gone past that bogey of not converting enough fifties into hundreds. His leadership qualities are unparalleled in the world game.

BATTING POWER

"I think our middle-order strength will be a factor, and it shows our batting power that Matthew Sinclair has been left at home."

Cairns plans to end his Test career at Trent Bridge where the third and final Test starts on June 10. The New Zealander, who turns 34 in June, played for Nottinghamshire from 1989 to 1996 and again in 2003.

"I had intended to quit after the South Africa series but there is a great tradition of finishing in England," he said.

"It was not a difficult choice. Test cricket has taken its toll on my body -- I've had five operations on my knees -- and I've been restricted to 59 appearances, missing 57, since my debut in 1989.

"I don't want to make a fuss as I'll be around in one-day cricket for a while, and I'd love to play in another World Cup.

"This squad are young and, with the talent we have, we can win in the Caribbean in 2007."

Cairns became the sixth player to score 3,000 Test runs and take 200 wickets in the drawn series against South Africa in March. He was the second fastest cricketer to reach the 3,000-200 landmark after England's Ian Botham.

He has scored 3,160 runs at 33.97 in his 59 Tests and taken 206 wickets at an average 29.27.