O'Brien sent packing

Iain O'Brien

New Zealand paceman Iain O'Brien's tour of Australia is over after he was sent home following a below-par performance in the opening tour match.

New Zealand Cricket released a statement saying O'Brien had been sent back to play for Wellington in the State Championship.

He conceded 52 runs in just four overs in the match against the Cricket Australia Chairman's XI in Perth on Friday.

The tour is scheduled to last two weeks, featuring three one-day internationals - which constitute the Chappell-Hadlee Series - as well as a Twenty20 match in Perth on Tuesday.

O'Brien played in both Tests against South Africa last month, taking three wickets as the Black Caps lost 2-0. He is yet to make his ODI debut.