New Zealand legend Sir Richard Hadlee has warned that Ross Taylor's return to the Black Caps' dressing room is likely to be slightly awkward, given the way his captaincy tenure ended and his absence from the side.

Taylor was stripped of the captaincy under controversial circumstances while on tour in Sri Lanka, and Brendon McCullum was given the job by coach Mike Hesson. It was then revealed that Hesson and Taylor did not get along at all.

As a result of this PR nightmare, Taylor decided he did not want to be a part of the tour to South Africa, leaving the side short their best batsman, but he will return for the series against England this month.

The bowling legend told Sky Sports: "It is going to be an uneasy time when he comes back into the dressing room. In South Africa the harmony in the side was very good and they got some good results so there are testing times still to come in my view."

Hadlee added: "It shows that Mike has got balls because John Buchanan, the director of cricket, was very much a Taylor man as far as the captaincy was concerned,

"All of a sudden the coach who Buchanan helped to appoint is going against the decision-making. Whether it's right or wrong is still to be determined but it is the way it was done that has caused animosity.

"I thought the timing (during the Sri Lanka series) was appalling but Hesson is his own man and that is a good quality in a coach."

But Hadlee did praise McCullum's captaincy style, saying: "McCullum is very positive in everything he does and has been very pro-active as captain so far. I see a difference in the team, they seem to be energised under McCullum."

It has been noticable, especially in recent years, that the Kiwis like to focus on the shorter formats, while their Test side has slipped to the near-bottom of the rankings. This saddens Hadlee, who feels their will soon be no fans watching Tests.

He said: "Our Test record has been very poor. In fact John Buchanan has said quite plainly that more resources will go into the one-day game. It is a pity our Test cricket is suffering because to me it is still the ultimate challenge and the best form of the game.

"I am worried whether will stay that way because the crowds here are just not turning up to Test cricket."

When asked about the Black Caps' chances against England, considering the recent tour to South Africa where they lost the Tests but won the ODI series, Hadlee was confident his countrymen could compete.

He insisted: "Of course New Zealand have a chance. We have always been the underdogs and perhaps that suits us as we can come out fighting. We have players who are capable and could cause a shock.

"All I can say is that England will have to be wary because if they make mistakes we have players who can take advantage."