How recalled to NZ picture

Opening batsman Jamie How has been recalled to the New Zealand one-day international team, along with allrounders James Franklin and Kyle Mills. With the retirements of Craig McMillan and former captain Stephen Fleming (from limited overs cricket), the team is set to enter a transitional period with a restructuring of the ODI lineup.

First choice batsman Peter Fulton will also sit out the three-match series with a knee injury. The various vacancies see How returning to the side for the first time since 2005-06, when he played his only 6 games to date, for an average of 28.20.

He is expected to open with Lou Vincent, who returns from injury that kept him out of the back end of the World Cup in the West Indies earlier this year. Also returning from injury is Kyle Mills, who will look to regain form quickly after a nine-month layoff with knee and calf problems.

His fellow allrounder, Franklin missed out on the recent World Twenty20 but has been recalled for the longer format of the limited overs game. There was no room for Twenty20 callups, Nathan McCullum, Chris Martin and Bradley Scott, however.

The final notable inclusion is that of Gareth Hopkins, the wicket-keeper batsman who also featured in the World Twenty20 squad. Given that Brendan McCullum is still very much the first choice with the gloves, Hopkins is expected to play as a specialist batsman.

New Zealand ODI squad:
Daniel Vettori (capt), Brendon McCullum (wk), Lou Vincent, Jamie How, Ross Taylor, Scott Styris, Gareth Hopkins, Jacob Oram, Kyle Mills, James Franklin, Shane Bond, Mark Gillespie, Jeetan Patel, Michael Mason.