KEY POINTS:
DURHAM - Gareth Hopkins has earned a New Zealand one-day international cricket recall for tonight's (NZT) series opener against England, replacing the injured Jacob Oram.
New Zealand coach John Bracewell confirmed Hopkins would wicketkeep and bat No 7 at Chester-le-Street, scene of his ODI debut four years ago, while opener Brendon McCullum will play as a batsman only.
Paceman Mark Gillespie and batsman Peter Fulton were also dropped from the nine-wicket loss to England in yesterday's Twenty20 international in Manchester.
It will be Hopkins' ninth ODI, his first since the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy match against Australia in Hobart in December.
He was preferred to Fulton, who was a late replacement for Oram but scored a second-ball duck in the Twenty20 international.
Allrounder Oram's hamstring injury is expected to sideline him for between 7-10 days, according to team medical staff.
Teenage paceman Tim Southee was also included in the New Zealand 12 at Gillespie's expense and appeared likely to make his ODI debut after recovering from an ankle injury.
Spinner Jeetan Patel, Southee or Michael Mason - the pick of the pace bowlers in Manchester - will vie for 12th man duties, with the playing 11 to be confirmed just before the start (9.45pm NZT).
Meanwhile, England were also hit by injury concerns, with opening batsman Alastair Cook ruled out with a shoulder injury.
His test opening partner Andrew Strauss was summoned to the squad as cover.
New Zealand
Daniel Vettori (captain), Jamie How, Brendon McCullum, James Marshall, Ross Taylor, Scott Styris, Daniel Flynn, Gareth Hopkins, Kyle Mills, Michael Mason, Tim Southee, Jeetan Patel (one to be omitted).
England
Paul Collingwood (captain), Luke Wright, Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Ravi Bopara, Owais Shah, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Tim Ambrose, Graeme Swann, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Ryan Sidebottom, Chris Tremlett, Andrew Strauss (three to be omitted).
- NZPA
