Otago unavailable for second warm-up match

How to lead selection XI against England

Cricinfo staff

February 25, 2008

	Fresh from his productive ODI series, Jamie How will captain a New Zealand Selection XI against England © Getty Images

England will play another New Zealand invitational XI for their second warm-up ahead of the first Test after Otago became double-booked for the second time in a week. England were to face Otago in a first-class match starting on Thursday, however Otago have now qualified for Sunday's State Shield final and will not be available for the tour match.

It follows a similar situation for England's first practice match, which started on Monday, as their original opponents Otago instead played the State Shield semi-final. The New Zealand Selection XI team will be led by Jamie How.

Auckland are also in the State Shield final so the squad is made up of players from New Zealand's four other first-class sides. Matthew Bell, Peter Fulton, Mathew Sinclair, Mark Gillespie and Iain O'Brien are playing the two-day match and have been kept on for the three-day game in Dunedin.

"A number of Black Caps have been selected to help them prepare for the Test series, allowing them to open the head-to-head contests they will face this season," Richard Hadlee, the selection manager said. "There are also other players we want to look at and give them an opportunity to impress."

New Zealand Selection XI Jamie How (capt), Matthew Bell, Peter Fulton, Ross Taylor, Mathew Sinclair, Grant Elliott, Mark Orchard, Bevan Griggs, Jeetan Patel, Mark Gillespie, Iain O'Brien.

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