Cairns says no to Test comeback

Chris Cairns has rejected a plea from John Bracewell to return to Test cricket and help out a side debilitated by injury for the series against Australia. Bracewell asked Cairns to end his eight-month retirement, but he quickly dismissed the idea and the search for a replacement ended with Ian O'Brien.

"He quite rightly has drawn a line under his Test career and you have to respect that," Bracewell told National Radio. "I don't have a problem with his answer. He's also bowling extremely well at the moment, and how long his ankle will last is another question."

Bracewell's difficulty in choosing a side missing seven strong candidates hit by injury is in direct contrast to Australia's dilemma. New Zealand finally settled on a pace attack of O'Brien, Chris Martin and James Franklin while their opponents are trying to decide the best way of fitting Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie and Michael Kasprowicz into three places.

Cairns, who played 62 Tests over 15 years, decided to become a one-day only player last year and retired with nine wickets in the loss to England at Trent Bridge in June. During the current one-day series his bowling has usually managed to trick Australia while his medium-paced partners have struggled for any impact.