Cricket: Bond and Astle back in NZ squad to tour England

3.10pm

New Zealand cricket welcomed stars Shane Bond and Nathan Astle back into the 14-man squad to tour England next month.

Bond, who has 43 wickets from 10 tests, only recently returned to domestic cricket after suffering a recurrence of a lower back stress fracture in May.

Fellow Cantabrian Nathan Astle is also on the comeback trail after injuring both his knees over the last 12 months.

He hasn't played a one-day international since last year's World Cup in South Africa and played his last test on the tour to India in November.

Other changes in the squad named by coach John Bracewell involve the inclusion of one-day international Kyle Mills, while Daryl Tuffey returns after being rested for the third test against South Africa in Wellington last month.

The Central Districts pairing of Mathew Sinclair and Michael Mason, who played in the Basin Reserve match, were the two incumbents to miss out.

New Zealand open their series on May 20 at Lords in London, followed by tests at Headingly starting on June 3 and Trent Bridge on June 10.

The bulk of the team is expected to remain in England for the tri-series involving the West Indies, with specialist one-day players to be added.

Squad: Michael Papps, Mark Richardson, Stephen Fleming (captain), Scott Styris, Craig McMillan, Nathan Astle, Chris Cairns, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum, Daniel Vettori, Daryl Tuffey, Chris Martin, Kyle Mills, Shane Bond.

- NZPA