Cricket: Kiwi selectors call in a double act

Northern Districts captain James Marshall joins his twin brother Hamish in the squad for today's one-dayer against Australia. Picture / Brett Phibbs

Television viewers have been advised against adjusting their sets today when identical twins Hamish and James Marshall appear for the first time in New Zealand one-day colours.

Northern Districts captain James Marshall has been rushed into the squad after concerns about the fitness of Scott Styris, who has been withdrawn from the team for the second one-day international against Australia with a knee injury.

Styris has been troubled for the past few weeks with bruising to the bone on his left knee, and after continued soreness at training yesterday was advised to rest.

How long he will be sidelined is uncertain.

James, a mirror image of his in-form brother, was unsure what was happening when he was called to the boundary by his coach, Bruce Blair, during yesterday's State Championship game against Canterbury at Gisborne.

"I knew it wasn't anything to do with my family because they were here," said Marshall.

"And I didn't think it was anything about my captaincy because things had been going pretty well.

"Then he told me I'd been called into the New Zealand team and I had to fly to Christchurch. I couldn't believe it."

James Marshall will be 12th man but the fact that he was singled out to join the squad suggests he is close to earning his full spurs and being united with his brother at international level.

"That would be another nightmare for the scorers," said Marshall, who could join his brother as the first twins - identical or otherwise - to play for New Zealand.

"It was a huge thing to play for ND together. If we get the chance at this level it would be even bigger."

Whatever the prognosis on the Styris knee injury, it has opened the door for Jeff Wilson to mark his full return to international cricket, a milestone that captain Stephen Fleming said was exciting for everyone involved.

"I've no doubt that he'll be able to step up, that's why the World XI games were so important to him," Fleming said yesterday.

"They allowed him to get back into the flow of things, and he's done that pretty well."

Fleming said he didn't want to get involved in the debate about ground security, as his side hadn't been affected by the issue and were not in a position to judge what was happening and why.

But he said there was always an edge to New Zealand-Australia contests and it was no different before Christmas when his team crossed the Tasman.

"Ricky [Ponting] and the Australians made a deal about it because it affected them, but we were sitting in the stands so it's not worth us commenting.

"I think there's a bit of passion there. But I don't know how different it would have been from an Australian crowd.

"We've been there in front of packed houses in Australia and that can be pretty hostile at times."

Ponting yesterday rejected the claim from New Zealand coach John Bracewell that he effectively milked the situation on Saturday in order to stop the game and interrupt New Zealand's batting momentum.

"My job as captain is to make sure the players are safe in the field, that was all I was concerned about the other night," he said.

"Certainly there was no intention of stopping the game or slowing it up - that's not the way in which we play our cricket."

Australia have made two changes to the team that beat New Zealand by 10 runs at Wellington.

Michael Hussey (known by his team-mates as "Shameless") is coming in for Simon Katich and Jason Gillespie replaces Michael Kasprowicz.

The teams

Second one-dayer, Jade Stadium, Christchurch.

Live on Sky Sport 1 from 1.30pm.

New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (c), Nathan Astle, Mathew Sinclair, Craig McMillan, Hamish Marshall, Chris Cairns, Brendon McCullum, Daniel Vettori, Jeff Wilson, Kyle Mills, Daryl Tuffey, James Marshall (12th man).

Australia: Ricky Ponting (c), Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist, Michael Clark, Damien Martyn, Michael Hussey, Andrew Symonds, Brad Hogg, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, Glenn McGrath, James Hopes (12th man).