McMillan dropped to find form under less pressure

Craig McMillan has been dropped for the New Zealand side to play India in the fifth National Bank Series One-Day International with India at Wellington on Wednesday.

McMillan has been sadly out of form for the series and will play State Shield cricket for Canterbury against Central Districts in Christchurch tomorrow while he will also play in the State Championship match against CD in Timaru starting on Thursday.

Fast bowler Shane Bond will return to the side.

In a bid to get more bowling time for left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori, he will play for Northern Districts in their match against Wellington at Hamilton tomorrow. The game is a day-night match.

The New Zealand team will be: Stephen Fleming (captain), Andre Adams, Nathan Astle, Shane Bond, Chris Harris, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Mathew Sinclair, Scott Styris, Daryl Tuffey, Daniel Vettori.

Selection convener Sir Richard Hadlee said of McMillan's dropping: "Craig has been struggling for form with the bat and has some technical issues to address.

"We would like him to concentrate on rectifying these and we think it would be easier for him to do this at a domestic level where there is less pressure."

And after playing for Canterbury against Wellington in the State Shield on Sunday, Bond had been cleared by New Zealand Cricket's medical panel to rejoin the side.

Hadlee said Cairns would play again for Canterbury tomorrow and was likely to be considered for the last two matches in the series in Auckland on Saturday and Hamilton on Sunday.

In relation to Vettori, Hadlee said: "With the seam bowlers dominating the Indian batsman to the extent they have so far in the series, Daniel has not been required to play much of a role with the ball.

"He has decided he would like to get a few overs under his belt and, with that in mind and our support, he is heading back to Hamilton today to play for Northern Districts.

"The selectors and management team are pleased that Daniel has been proactive in recognising the need to get more through more work for the betterment of himself the team and New Zealand Cricket and we commend him for his decision," Hadlee said.