Vettori and Nash back on the international scene

Injured players left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori and all rounder Dion Nash have regained their international places with their inclusion in the New Zealand team to travel to Sri Lanka to contest a tri-series with Sri Lanka and India.

The team was announced this morning and is: Stephen Fleming (c), Nathan Astle, Grant Bradburn, James Franklin, Chris Harris, Craig McMillan, Kyle Mills, Dion Nash, Jacob Oram, Adam Parore, Mathew Sinclair, Daryl Tuffey, Daniel Vettori, Lou Vincent.

Five players, Chris Nevin, Shayne O'Connor, Brooke Walker, Paul Wiseman and Andre Adams have been placed on stand-by should they be required as replacements.

The team was a predictable selection given the form shown by several newcomers, including Oram and Vincent during the last home season, and the form of Mills and Sinclair during the end of season series in Sharjah.

A gamble has been taken with the recall of the experienced Nash but the one-day nature of the series is a good chance to see if he is able to stand up to the rigours of international cricket.

Selection chairman Sir Richard Hadlee said today: "In this team we have a core of experienced, mature cricketers such as Fleming, Astle, Parore, McMillan, and Nash; and a number of newer players who are progressing satisfactorily at international level in Vincent, Oram, Tuffey and Franklin.

"There are seven all-rounders in the side, two specialist spin bowlers, and the two specialist pace bowlers are Tuffey and Franklin.

"We also have an exciting inner-circle field featuring Harris, Vincent and Sinclair. In fact, it is an excellent fielding side. In all, the panel has aimed for a balanced team selected with Sri Lankan conditions in mind."

Hadlee said there was competition for places in the side with all five of the stand-by players serious contenders for inclusion.

"There is little between the records of Paul Wiseman and Grant Bradburn for instance. Both players have been tried in recent times and neither has cemented a permanent place in the side. For the Sri Lanka tour the panel has named Bradburn, principally on the strength of his good form last summer and his experience. Paul Wiseman however remains very much in the selection frame.

"Similarly, Shayne O'Connor was unlucky to miss selection on this occasion. The panel has decided to continue with James Franklin while Kyle Mills has been rewarded for his encouraging performances in Sharjah."

Hadlee said the selection panel was conscious of the long season ahead and the need to have a number of players capable of moving into the CLEAR Black Caps.

"We are facing another long season which begins with this tour to Sri Lanka and continues with barely a break through to the tour of the West Indies in April/May next year.

"Recent history suggests that we are likely to need more than 20 players across an international season of this duration and intensity. The players on stand-by have been asked to be ready should they be required due to injury during this tour to Sri Lanka but they also figure significantly in our plans for the next 10 months."

Hadlee also commented on the return of Vettori and Nash.

"Dion and Daniel have been given a clean bill of health by the medical panel. The selectors will be looking for Dion to contribute as a bowler and a middle order batsman."

He clarified comments he made earlier this week about Nash's degree of fitness.

"Dion has described his bowling in training as being at an intensity of 80%.

"However, over the next four weeks, before leaving for Sri Lanka, it is anticipated that he will continue to improve his intensity levels. In fact, Dion is no different in this regard to other bowlers. At this stage of the season all bowlers would be bowling around 80% and looking to increase their intensity to peak in three or four weeks time," Hadlee said.