Redmond and Flynn ready for England while Ryder in line for ODIs

Future is now for new-look New Zealand

Cricinfo staff

April 5, 2008

	Jesse Ryder will be back in black if he can prove his fitness from a hand injury © Getty Images

New Zealand will take a reconstructed batting line-up to England after dumping three batsman from the side that lost the series in Napier last month. Matthew Bell, Mathew Sinclair and Grant Elliott have been cut from the squad while Stephen Fleming has retired, leaving Aaron Redmond, Daniel Flynn and Peter Fulton chances to cement spots.

Jesse Ryder's fight with a toilet door has been forgiven and he was named in the 15-man squad for the one-day leg of the tour. Ryder severely cut his hand during the nightclub incident, but the selectors retained faith in the powerful batsman and he will return to the team in June if he can prove his fitness.

Richard Hadlee, the panel chairman, said the squads represented New Zealand's future due to "a number of exciting selections". "Aaron has been one of the State Championship's leading top-order batsmen for a number of seasons," he said. "He has consistently made runs from the opening position, averaging over 40 this year. We hope he can provide a long-term solution to the top order, which we recognise as still being a key issue."

Flynn made his ODI debut during the season and Hadlee said he was rewarded for his domestic form while James Marshall was recalled for a similar reason. "The main Test squad will total 16 players to include a second wicketkeeping option in Gareth Hopkins," Hadlee said. "Previously we had covered short-term wicketkeeping with batsman in the squad who can keep, but we do not have that luxury with this squad."

Elliott, Michael Mason and Mark Gillespie will step in for the five players who will miss the opening two matches of the tour to appear in two weeks of the Indian Premier League. In those fixtures Mason and Gillespie, who are both in the one-day squad, will be competing to see who stays with the Test outfit. Jamie How will lead the team while Daniel Vettori is in India with Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Ross Taylor and Jacob Oram.

The first Test is at Lord's on May 15 while the five-match one-day series begins in Durham on June 15. ODIs against Ireland and Scotland will complete the tour.

Test squad Aaron Redmond, Daniel Flynn, Ross Taylor, Peter Fulton, Jamie How, James Marshall, Jacob Oram, Gareth Hopkins, Brendon McCullum (wk), Daniel Vettori (capt), Iain O'Brien, Tim Southee, Kyle Mills, Jeetan Patel, Chris Martin, (either Mark Gillespie or Michael Mason to be added).

ODI squad Brendon McCullum (wk), Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor, Scott Styris, Daniel Flynn, Jamie How, Jacob Oram, Gareth Hopkins, James Marshall, Daniel Vettori (capt), Tim Southee, Kyle Mills, Jeetan Patel, Mark Gillespie, Michael Mason.

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