How called into New Zealand Test squad

Jamie How will join the New Zealand Test squad in South Africa, New Zealand Cricket confirmed on Monday. His call-up comes alongside an SOS for Kyle Mills following a host of injuries to the side which means the pair could be parachuted directly into the second Test squad for the match at Centurion which begins on Friday.

New Zealand badly need to win that match to tie the two-Test series following a 358-run drubbing by their hosts inside four days in the opener at Johannesburg.

How, the opener, has been called up as general cover for a range of problems, including a hamstring strain that Jacob Oram picked up during the Test and a gastric illness that has struck down Michael Papps.

Mills travels as a direct replacement for Shane Bond, who will return to New Zealand after sustaining an abdominal injury during the first Test. The squad had already been hit by knee injuries to James Franklin and Peter Fulton.

Both replacement players were already included in the squad for the three-ODI series which follows the two Tests after a Twenty20. Mills was also part of the original New Zealand squad but withdrew due to a calf strain, an injury he has now recovered from.