Cairns returns to face Australia

Chris Cairns has been recalled to New Zealand's one-day side for next month's Chappell-Hadlee Series but Stephen Fleming is in doubt following a "personal medical matter". Cairns admitted his "pride was dented" by his omission from the five-match South Africa tour, but John Bracewell, the coach, was satisfied with his focus in the past two months and he has replaced Andre Adams in the line-up to face Australia.

"We sent Chris away to work on his cricket fitness and he has shown a great deal of discipline in his training and matches and we believe he is ready for a return to international cricket," Bracewell said as the 14-man squad for the three-match series was announced. "He understands that it is a big step up to play Australia after taking part in pre-season domestic matches, but I am happy that if he continues the work ethic he has shown he will be up to the task."

Cairns, who has retired from Tests, has played 208 one-day internationals but has struggled in his past nine matches, failing to reach fifty or take more than three wickets in an innings. Picked for the series in Zimbabwe that also included India, Cairns took only two wickets and scored 40 runs in four matches.

Stephen Fleming is in doubt for the first match on December 3 at Auckland following a "personal medical matter" but Bracewell expected him to play in the games at Wellington and Christchurch on December 7 and 10. Daniel Vettori will lead the side if Fleming is absent and the large squad includes cover for the captain.

Jacob Oram, who is another allrounder with fitness problems, bowled free of pain in New Zealand Academy matches over the past week and Bracewell said he seemed to have regained confidence after recovering from back and foot injuries. The spin bowler Jeetan Patel, who played three matches on the tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa, has been cut from the squad.

New Zealand squad Stephen Fleming (capt). Nathan Astle, Hamish Marshall, Scott Styris, Lou Vincent, Jacob Oram, James Marshall, Craig McMillan, Chris Cairns, Brendon McCullum (wk), Daniel Vettori, Shane Bond, James Franklin, Kyle Mills.