Cricket: Mills in, Patel out of third test

Kyle Mills has come into the New Zealand team for the third cricket test against South Africa starting tonight at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.

Mills replaces off-spinner Jeetan Patel, and the selection comes as no surprise, given the pre-test predictions of a pitch likely to retain moisture.

A marquee is covering the pitch and Black Caps captain Stephen Fleming has been debating its origins.

He has joked a function of some sort might have been held there over the past couple of days.

Jamie How also comes into the 12 and may get a start if Peter Fulton's back injury does not come right.

He has been troubled with pain since the second test in Cape Town.

Hamish Marshall has not recovered sufficiently from his rib injury from the opening test match in Centurion, so there is the outside prospect that the Black Caps just might have the same opening pair for consecutive tests.

- NEWSTALK ZB