Franklin Overlooked for ICC Trophy

New Zealand selectors have overlooked left-arm seamer James Franklin in opting to recall Kyle Mills for the ICC Champions Trophy in September.

Also included in the squad was Daryl Tuffey, who has struggled with injury problems since the domestic summer. Tuffey, Mills, Ian Butler, Jacob Oram and Chris Cairns form the pace battery for the Black Caps.

Also included in the squad was veteran all-rounder Chris Harris, who remains a series-by-series proposition in the squad.

Michael Papps has retained his place in the squad despite limited match time in the recent NatWest Series, while Brendon McCullum returns behind the stumps following the birth of his first child in June.

Yet the most significant selection is that of Mills. With his ability to bowl at the death (with varied success) and his superior fielding he has piped Franklin for the final bowlers place in the side.

Mills was unavailable for the NatWest Series after injuring himself on Test debut, with Franklin taking his place in the squad and earning the man-of-the-match award against England in a preliminary match.

The Black Caps start their warm-up campaign on September 2 before their first match against the USA on September 10.

Posted by Andre