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Promising Northern Districts batsman Daniel Flynn is the only change to New Zealand's one-day cricket squad for the remainder of their five-match series against England after selectors opted to jettison Auckland allrounder Paul Hitchcock.
Hitchcock, a surprise selection in the original team to play two Twenty20 matches and the first three ODIs, returns to provincial duties after failing to make an impression on return from his four- year absence from the national side.
The medium pacer's fate was probably sealed when his seven over cost 56 at Eden Park last night as England kept the series alive with a clinical six-wicket victory.
Designated as a specialist `death' bowler, the 33-year-old was targeted by the English middle order, particularly captain Paul Collingwood who master-minded the run chase with an unbeaten 70 off 50 balls.
Hitchcock's last over cost 18, placing the tourists in an unbeatable position as they sealed the win with 18 balls to spare.
Flynn has already had a fleeting exposure to international cricket after being drafted in the starting line-up for the second Twenty20 match in Christchurch earlier this month as a short-term replacement for an injured Jacob Oram.
It was hardly an inspiring debut after the left hander scored a single of two balls as the Black Caps lost by 50 runs but the 22-year-old is clearly seen as a player of the future.
Flynn, who captained New Zealand at the youth World Cup in 2004, scored a career best 149 against Canterbury hours before his call up, has scored two big one-day hundreds this season - a career best 149 against Canterbury and 143 against Wellington.
Those innings' have enabled him to average 47 in the State Shield so far while his first class average is 52.
Wellington pace bowler and test incumbent Iain O'Brien is the other change from the original squad though he joined the team as cover before last night's match when the arm injury Michael Mason sustained during game two in Hamilton ruled him out for the remainder of the series.
O'Brien is one of four squad members involved in the latest round of the State Shield one-day competition tomorrow as the selection panel have sought to give relatively inactive players match practice.
Jeetan Patel will also turn out for Wellington against Central Districts in Palmerston North while the round is also likely to be of value to out of form middle order duo Scott Styris and Peter Fulton.
Styris turns out for Auckland against his old Northern Districts teammates while Fulton, who has tapered off since his 83 against Bangladesh in Napier in December, plays for Canterbury against Otago in Christchurch.
The one-day series continues in Napier on Wednesday while the final game is in Christchurch next Saturday.
Jesse Ryder is considered doubtful for the McLean Park clash after rolling his left ankle while scoring 23 last night. He will have physiotherapy over the next two days in a bid to be available.
New Zealand squad: Daniel Vettori (captain), Jesse Ryder, Brendon McCullum, Jamie How, Ross Taylor, Scott Styris, Peter Fulton, Jacob Oram, Daniel Flynn, Kyle Mills, Jeetan Patel, Iain O'Brien, Chris Martin.
- NZPA
