Cricket: Mills preferred ahead of Franklin for ICC Trophy

By RICHARD BOOCK

Kyle Mills has beaten off the challenge from a rejuvenated James Franklin to claim a place in the national one-day team for next month's ICC Champions Trophy.

Mills' experience in the heat of battle evidently tipped the scales in his favour for the knockout-style tournament, despite an injury-stricken tour of England this year, and the sometimes outstanding form of Franklin - his eventual replacement.

The maturing Wellington left-armer took six wickets in his comeback test at Trent Bridge, and then played a starring role in New Zealand's one-day win over England at Chester-le-Street, taking five for 42.

But coach John Bracewell said the same reasons he picked Mills for the Natwest tournament earlier in the year applied when he considered his selection for the Champions Trophy, which will be staged in England between September 10 and 25.

"Kyle provides an excellent option for the squad in that he can bowl in all positions, is well-equipped to bowl at the death, and as such will provide quality cover for Chris Cairns.

"He simply offers more options in the squad we've got, and that translates into greater flexibility."

Bracewell rejected the idea of creating room for Franklin by omitting batsman Michael Papps or fast bowler Ian Butler, saying both those players were critical to the balance of the squad, as was the other likely back-up player, Chris Harris.

"If we had dropped Pappsy and brought Franklin in, we would've simply had one bowler too many - and a squad member who had very little chance of even playing.

"The way it is, Papps covers our batting line-up, Harris covers the possibility of playing on slow and tired pitches, and Butler will vie with Tuffey and Mills for a pace bowling slot."

Bracewell said he had been encouraged by the progress shown by Butler in the ODI environment, and was keen to see him develop as a spearhead, and someone who could use guile and skill to frustrate opposition batsmen.

"Ian's starting to become quite confident with his changes of pace, and that's a positive development. We haven't got many bowlers who are genuinely skilled with the slower ball - Chris Cairns excepted - but he's starting to look quite special."

Butler, who had struggled with injury over the winter months, Cairns and Daryl Tuffey had been assessed by NZC medical staff and deemed "fit at this point", but may still have to have fitness tests before their departure.

New Zealand have an intensive build-up to their pool one game against the United States on September 10 at the Oval, and their second, much more formidable match, against world champion Australia six days later at the same ground.

That match should decide who of the transtasman rivals progress to the semifinals.

The team leave for England on August 29 and will be based at Taunton in Somerset until September 5, where they will play one-day matches against Somerset and a Somerset/Gloucestershire combined XI.

The New Zealanders will then play Sri Lanka on September 8 in another warm-up match, and are scheduled to meet Surrey on September 13, ahead of their pool match against Australia.

Meanwhile, up-and-coming fast bowler Richard Sherlock - having played just two first-class games - is the surprise selection in the New Zealand A team for next month's tour to South Africa.

The side will be led by former test opening batsman Matthew Bell, one of 10 players in the squad to have gained full international honours, and will play three 'tests' and three one-day games during the visit.

The teams

New Zealand Stephen Fleming (captain), Nathan Astle, Ian Butler, Chris Cairns, Chris Harris, Hamish Marshall, Brendon McCullum, Craig McMillan, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Michael Papps, Scott Styris, Daryl Tuffey, Daniel Vettori.

New Zealand A

Matthew Bell (Wellington, captain), Tama Canning (Auckland), Peter Fulton (Canterbury), James Franklin (Wellington), Gareth Hopkins (Otago), Jamie How (Central Districts), Bruce Martin (Northern Districts), Chris Martin (Canterbury), Michael Mason (Central Districts), Richard Sherlock (Canterbury), Mathew Sinclair (Central Districts), Ross Taylor (Central Districts), Lou Vincent (Auckland), Kerry Walmsley (Auckland), Paul Wiseman (Canterbury).