Astle and McMillan pay price

Craig McMillan misses out for New Zealand

Out-of-form batsmen Nathan Astle and Craig McMillan have paid the price of failure by losing their places in New Zealand's one-day squad.

The Canterbury duo have failed to trouble the scorers in recent series and coach John Bracewell has looked elsewhere as he wants runs in the forthcoming four-match series against Sri Lanka.

New Zealand ‘A’ captain Peter Fulton - also of Canterbury - and Central Districts' Jamie How have been called up after good performances on the ‘A’ tour to Sri Lanka earlier this year.
Astle, the Black Caps' top limited-overs runscorer and McMillan are joined on the sidelines by James Marshall, James Franklin and Chris Martin.

Pace bowler Shane Bond and all-rounder Andre Adams return to the squad after injury kept both men out of the Chappell-Hadlee series against Australia.

Both have since proven their fitness in domestic action.

One notable inclusion is Hamish Marshall, who has also found runs hard to come by in all forms of the game in recent months.

Bracewell said: “We acknowledge his recent lack of form but believe he will turn it around.

“We were also conscious of the need to retain continuity within the squad and not to make wholesale changes.

“Jamie How and Peter Fulton have been selected after showing consistent form in domestic cricket and New Zealand A over an extended period.

“Looking towards the World Cup, if we are going to create competition for World Cup places now is the appropriate time.”

Stephen Fleming will skipper the side despite breaking a finger earlier this week.

New Zealand squad: Stephen Fleming (captain), Daniel Vettori (vice-captain), Andre Adams, Shane Bond, Chris Cairns, Peter Fulton, Jamie How, Hamish Marshall, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Scott Styris, Lou Vincent.