Cricket: McMillan axed, McCullum recalled

PORT ELIZABETH - The axe which has hovered all season has swung on batsman Craig McMillan as New Zealand eye a virtual sudden death World Cup cricket match with West Indies here tonight (9pm NZDT).

McMillan, who managed just three in New Zealand's 47-run loss to Sri Lanka on Monday, was today supplanted by Brendon McCullum, who will take over the wicketkeeping gloves and force Lou Vincent up the order.

It continued a season of woe for 125-match veteran McMillan who, aside from a blazing century for Canterbury against Wellington last month, has never got into stride.

Another casualty from the listless effort in Bloemfontein could be Daryl Tuffey, who went for 36 runs off five overs. He was named in the 12 today but could well carry the drinks on an expected slow pitch, with Andre Adams' wicket-taking ability more in favour.

Spinner Daniel Vettori returns for his 100th one-day international while Kyle Mills was again overlooked.

The changes signify the desperation in the New Zealand camp for a turn in fortune.

As far as big matches go, it rates up with New Zealand's 1999 World Cup semifinal and the 2000 Champions Trophy decider.

Given that more than half of the current team weren't around for either fixture, it is the most important match in some young careers.

So important that if New Zealand lose they will have to remain in South Africa until March 4 for meaningless pool games against minnows Canada and Bangladesh, knowing they won't be going any further.

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming said the team would have to treat the match like a final after their meek loss to Sri Lanka, and the likelihood they have forfeited winning points from their refusal to travel to Kenya.

"It is pretty much sudden death. It was a luxury to probably have one up our sleeve to lose, we've lost that and it's clear cut now," he said.

"We're very determined, nervous, and on edge which is what I want."

New Zealand's big match record hasn't been great in recent years. They were given a nine-wicket hiding by Pakistan in the 1999 World Cup semifinal in England, and in last year's tri-series finals in Australia were dealt out eight-wicket and six-wicket losses by South Africa.

The one thing the Black Caps can cling to though is their crowning moment, the Champions Trophy final in Nairobi two years ago when they toppled India by four wickets.

The star on that occasion was Chris Cairns, who hobbled in to bowl 10 cheap overs on a dodgy knee then led New Zealand home with a magnificent 102 not out.

It is timely that tonight Cairns is set to return to the bowling crease for the first time in a year after a drawn-out recovery from knee surgery.

Fleming confirmed Cairns would be available to bowl, although not his full allotment of 10 overs, after some sharp net spells in the past week.

"We're very pleased with the way he got through practice and that will create an option for me tomorrow.

"It will be a limited option but it's a very positive sign for us, and I welcome it."

The other positive sign is the return of Vettori for his first World Cup match after watching nine straight games from the sidelines in 1999.

Chris Harris and Nathan Astle's slow bowling would also come into play as New Zealand look to bat first, hence McCullum's inclusion for his ability to stand up to the stumps.

An in-form West Indies side are coming off a three-run upset of South Africa on Sunday and a 3-1 series win over New Zealand at home in June.

Captain Carl Hooper and master batsman Brian Lara are the keys for the West Indies who will play seven batsmen and just three frontline bowlers plus the spin of Hooper and Chris Gayle.

Hooper, who was icing a knee injury after today's training, sounded a warning of more to come for New Zealand.

"It was the manner in which we won the other night. We could have easily crumbled first up after the first hour, and towards the end we showed a lot of nerve.

"We're beginning to believe we can go all the way, and we should get stronger as the competition goes on."

Teams:

New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (captain), Nathan Astle, Scott Styris, Chris Cairns, Lou Vincent, Brendon McCullum, Chris Harris, Jacob Oram, Andre Adams, Daniel Vettori, Shane Bond, Daryl Tuffey (one to be omitted).

West Indies (likely): Carl Hooper (captain), Wavell Hinds, Chris Gayle, Brian Lara, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Ricardo Powell, Ridley Jacobs, Mervyn Dillon, Vasbert Drakes, Pedro Collins.

Umpires: Rudi Koertzen (South Africa), Darrell Hair (Australia). Third umpire: Srinivas Venkataraghavan (India).

- NZPA

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