TelstraClear Black Caps team to meet South Africa named

TelstraClear Black Caps chairman of selectors Sir Richard Hadlee today named the team to play South Africa tomorrow (Sunday, February 16).

The team is:

Stephen Fleming (captain)
Andre Adams
Nathan Astle
Shane Bond
Chris Cairns
Craig McMillan
Brendon McCullum
Kyle Mills
Jacob Oram
Scott Styris
Daniel Vettori
Lou Vincent

Mathew Sinclair, Chris Harris and Daryl Tuffey are not playing.

Hadlee said that the match has the significance of a World Cup final.

"If we lose this game the reality is we're not likely to progress any further in the tournament.

"The destiny of the players' is in their own hands and they know it.

"We need to make history tomorrow by beating South Africa for the first time on their own soil and, at the same time, the team will give themselves a very good chance of progressing to the Super Six stage of the tournament.

"A win for the TelstraClear Black Caps will also put tremendous pressure on South Africa making the Super Six."

Hadlee also said reintroducing Craig McMillan into the side was probably the biggest selection decision of the year.

"Craig has been badly out of form and by selecting him we have effectively thrown him another lifeline.

"It is likely he will bat further down the order where we require him to make a significant contribution.

"Craig is acutely aware of the significance of tomorrow's match not only for the team but for his own future."