KEY POINTS:
It was more a matter of who didn't make the cut when coach John Bracewell yesterday named his 30-man squad for the World Cup tournament in March and April.
Gone from the same-sized squad named for last year's Champions Trophy tournament in India are enfant terrible Jesse Ryder, contracted opening batsman Michael Papps and the Otago pace pairing of Warren McSkimming and Bradley Scott.
Selected in their place are recalled batsman Craig McMillan, and fringe bowlers Iain O'Brien, Paul Hitchcock and Daryl Tuffey.
McMillan has already recovered from his spell in the wilderness and was involved in last night's tri-series match at Hobart, but the trio of pace bowlers would have been less confident of their selection, especially Tuffey and Hitchcock.
Tuffey, once a virtual automatic selection for the New Zealand test and ODI squads, has not played for his country since blowing out in a one-dayer against Australia in 2005, and can boast only moderate form for Northern Districts.
Hitchcock, with 13 ODIs to his name, last played for New Zealand in the 2003-04 ODI series in Pakistan, but has impressed for Auckland this year with bat and ball, and particularly his bowling at the death.
Wellington opening bowler Iain O'Brien was less of a surprise, given he'd already been called into the ODI squad as cover at the start of the series against Sri Lanka.
The news was less pleasing for Papps, the only player contracted by New Zealand Cricket to miss qualification, or for the exciting but erratic Ryder, who carries question marks over his weight, fitness and discipline.
All three injured Black Caps - Jacob Oram, Scott Styris and Kyle Mills - have been included in the squad, as has the out-of-form Lou Vincent and test opener Jamie How.
The greater squad will be pared back to the tournament threshold of 15 on February 15.
NZ World Cup Squad
Andre Adams, Nathan Astle, Shane Bond, Stephen Fleming, James Franklin, Peter Fulton, Mark Gillespie, Chris Harris, Paul Hitchcock, Gareth Hopkins, Jamie How, James Marshall, Hamish Marshall, Chris Martin, Michael Mason, Kyle Mills, Brendon McCullum, Nathan McCullum, Peter McGlashan, Craig McMillan, Iain O'Brien, Jacob Oram, Mark Orchard, Jeetan Patel, Mathew Sinclair, Scott Styris, Ross Taylor, Daryl Tuffey, Daniel Vettori, Lou Vincent.
