Cricket: Franklin and Mills in, Tuffey and Vettori out

9.15am - By MARK GEENTY

NOTTINGHAM - New Zealand have recalled James Franklin and handed Kyle Mills a test debut as they put faith in a new five-pronged pace attack to claw back a consolation third cricket test win against England tonight (9.30pm start NZT).

Coach John Bracewell today named three changes from the nine-wicket second test hammering at Headingley, with Daryl Tuffey paying the price for poor form and injured spinner Daniel Vettori losing the race to be fit.

Craig McMillan returns for opener Michael Papps, with both having broken left little fingers, but McMillan's was in far better shape.

Left-arm paceman Franklin will join Mills, Chris Martin, Jacob Oram and Chris Cairns in a bowling attack desperately needing to turn things around against England's rampant batsmen.

It will be New Zealand's first test in eight years without a recognised spinner, since the West Indies tour in 1996 when Chris Harris, Roger Twose and Nathan Astle were the slow bowling options.

Franklin, who played the last of his two tests against Pakistan three years ago, was not named in the original tour party and was plucked from league cricket in Blackburn last week.

He has form on the board this year, with 36 first-class wickets for Wellington at 21.36, not to mention 379 runs at 34.45 with the bat.

Without Vettori, who was still limping today with a hamstring strain, the variety of Franklin was needed while Mills, 25 and with 32 one-day internationals to his name, was preferred to the struggling Tuffey.

Mills has played just once on tour, taking three for 86 against Leicestershire.

Normally New Zealand's test spearhead, Tuffey has not been the same since his knee injury and a haematoma ruled him out of the third test against South Africa in March.

In the first two tests here he has taken just three wickets at 82 runs apiece and appeared down on pace and unable to gain his normal seam movement.

Captain Stephen Fleming admitted Vettori's loss would be felt, having been the form bowler before injuring his hamstring diving in the outfield at Headingley.

"It's certainly different, we've had that left-arm spinner since Adam was a boy," said Fleming, who has only once before suffered a 0-3 series clean sweep as captain, against Australia in 2000.

"It is going to be a change of tactics, and although spin hasn't played a major part so far, with the hot weather we've had it might play a part in this test and we'll miss that.

"But it's up to the seam bowlers to do the job, the majority of the wickets have been taken by the seamers so we hope that continues."

Asked if standout opener Mark Richardson, formerly a left-arm spinner who got the yips, would be considered to bowl, Fleming did not rule it out although said he was "hesistant" to use him.

While the batting has been sound enough, the bowling has been the headache and Fleming implored his bowlers for better at Trent Bridge.

"We've got to go for less runs, and then be able to set some fields and stamp some authority with our fielding display. At the moment we're very reactionary at the sheer rate they're scoring.

"I've captained enough games now to know when we're not firing a shot. I know those feelings. Certainly in the last test at Headingley we were helpless."

England captain Michael Vaughan is looking to become the first England captain since Mike Brearley in 1978, also against New Zealand, to win a series 3-0.

While the Trent Bridge pitch looked an excellent batting strip, Vaughan predicted a result.

"Generally here when the clouds come in, it's similar to Leeds where it swings about," he said.

"It's a fascinating place to play because you're never sure what's going to happen with the weather."

England were considering one change, recalling paceman James Anderson for Martin Saggers.

New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (captain), Mark Richardson, Nathan Astle, Scott Styris, Craig McMillan, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum, Chris Cairns, James Franklin, Kyle Mills, Chris Martin.

England (from): Michael Vaughan (captain), Marcus Trescothick, Andrew Strauss, Mark Butcher, Graham Thorpe, Andrew Flintoff, Geraint Jones, Ashley Giles, Matthew Hoggard, Stephen Harmison, James Anderson, Martin Saggers.

Umpires: Simon Taufel, Daryl Harper (both Australia).

- NZPA