McMillan in team for first Test

Craig McMillan has been named in the New Zealand team to play the first Test against Australia at Brisbane on Thursday. Hamish Marshall, who scored a half-century against Bangladesh recently, missed out. Also out of the XI was James Franklin, who was laid low by a groin strain.

"There were a couple of tough ones, mostly based around balance, the sort of strategy we want to take into the game, and experience," said John Bracewell, the New Zealand coach. "Craig McMillan's selection gives us greater experience and someone who is battle hardened for a Test match of such magnitude. Hamish had just one Test innings in Bangladesh and, while he scored 50, was a bit out of touch in the one-day series. But what it really came down to was the small mental things - the fact that Craig has been there and done that. And the added bonus of a few overs may help."

Bracewell also expressed disappointment at losing Franklin, and explained that the need for swing influenced selection. "We want to have at least one swing bowler in the match as Brisbane is one of the few places in Australia where you get the opportunity to swing the ball. It will be about taking the small windows the new ball gives us - the opportunity to pick up a couple of wickets with a swinging ball against a team that goes hard at the bowling."

Bracewell expected conditions to suit the quicker bowlers. "We are expecting the ball to swing and after our initial look at the wicket it looks dry and is already showing cracks along the length of the pitch which indicates that it might take turn towards the end of the match. The ground staff have rolled a lot of grass clippings into the wicket trying to keep the moisture levels up."

New Zealand 1 Stephen Fleming (capt), 2 Mark Richardson, 3 Mathew Sinclair, 4 Scott Styris, 5 Nathan Astle, 6 Craig McMillan, 7 Jacob Oram, 8 Brendon McCullum (wk), 9 Daniel Vettori, 10 Kyle Mills, 11 Chris Martin