Andre Adams to return home

Andre Adams has been withdrawn from the New Zealand squad for the CB Series in Australia, where he has been unable to get a game, and sent home to get some first-class cricket ahead of the World Cup.

The team management reasoned that it was getting difficult to slot Adams in a side already packed with similar allrounders in Jacob Oram, Kyle Mills and James Franklin. "Because Andre offers similar skills as Jacob, Kyle and James Franklin he was going to struggle to get game time," Lindsay Crocker, the New Zealand media manager announced.

Oram wasn't part of the original touring squad but was included after he recovered from a hamstring injury. Mills was also expected to join the squad, fitness permitting, and the fitness of Scott Styris is also being monitored. Crocker added that one player was always going to be sent back home to maintain the strength of the touring party at 15 members.

Adams had failed to impress in the home ODI series against Sri Lanka which preceded the Australia tour, scoring just 10 runs and picking up one wicket in three games. He will return to represent his state side Auckland.