Invitational XI replaces Otago for tour game

England meet Fleming in Test warm-up

Cricinfo staff

February 22, 2008

	Stephen Fleming will prepare for his farewell with a practice game against England © Getty Images

England will face a New Zealand Invitational XI in a two-day match from Monday after Otago, the original opponents, became double-booked once they reached the semi-finals of a domestic competition. The game is one of two warm-ups for England in Dunedin ahead of the first Test in Hamilton starting on March 5.

Stephen Fleming will also use the contest to fine-tune for his final series as a New Zealand player and he is joined in the 13-man squad by the internationals Matthew Bell, Peter Fulton and Mark Gillespie. Only Fulton is involved in the one-day series, which concludes on Saturday, with New Zealand leading the five-game contest 2-1.

If Otago, who meet Canterbury in the State Shield on Sunday, win a place in the final a second Invitational XI will be selected for England's final practice beginning on February 28.

New Zealand Invitational XI Matthew Bell, Stephen Fleming, Peter Fulton, Mark Gillespie, Shaun Haig, Gareth Hopkins, Leighton Morgan, Gareth Shaw, Jordan Sheed, Mathew Sinclair, Will Somerville, Nic Turner, Sam Wells.

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