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GROS ISLET, St Lucia - A Shane Bond yorker has threatened to cause selection headaches for New Zealand ahead of their cricket World Cup opener against England.
Allrounder Craig McMillan failed to avoid a full-pitched Bond inswinger at training, earning himself a badly bruised big toe and a
trip to St Lucia Hospital's x-ray department.
A scan revealed severe bruising to the knuckle of his big toe on his right foot, though no break was detected.
His injury left what had seemed a congested Black Caps middle order potentially vulnerable.
England -- the other heavyweight in Group C -- also suffered collateral damage today, when seamer James Anderson fractured a little finger during catching practice.
While that mishap may have inadvertently solved a selection dilemma for England, the McMillan injury was likely to have more serious implications ahead of Friday's (Saturday NZT) clash here at Beaujesour Stadium.
McMillan and Peter Fulton were thought to be jostling for a berth in the pivotal encounter, which offers the winners a two-point leg up in the Super Eight stage.
But McMillan's injury -- coupled with his Canterbury teammate's recovery from his own fractured little finger -- could potentially weaken the Black Caps.
Fulton is an in form batsman, while the combative McMillan was seemingly at the peak of his batting powers.
Both face fitness tests at New Zealand's final training session tomorrow, though team management were confident Fulton would be available.
The outlook for McMillan, a key performer in the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy triumph over Australia, was not as optimistic after he hobbled from the nets, favouring his right foot.
He had just switched to Bond's net after indulging in some long-range hitting practice and was struck with the first ball he faced.
Anderson has a fracture to his bowling hand.
He may be available for the 11 but if he was out of the reckoning coach Duncan Fletcher still had one seamer to omit, probably the erratic Sajid Mahmood.
Andrew Flintoff, Liam Plunkett and Jon Lewis were expected to form the English pace attack, while spinners Monty Panesar and Jamie Dalrymple loom as key contributors on the evidence of today's group opener between Kenya and Canada.
Kenya's comfortable seven-wicket win was based on a suffocating 20 overs of spin from left arm orthodox Hiren Varaiya (one for 19 off 10) and Jimmy Kamande (two for 25 off 10).
Only Central Districts import Geoff Barnett made an early inroads at the top of the Canadian order, top scoring with 41 off 50 balls.
Kenyan captain Steve Tikolo's dribbly medium pacers further emphasised that express pace may not necessarily be the most effective attack -- even in fresh early morning conditions.
Tikolo maintained the trend of sending the opposition in after winning the toss, but the assistance he expected from a deceptively green wicket never materialised.
Black Caps assistant coach Bob Carter logged every delivery for analysis.
Although the assignment was worthwhile, doubt remained over just how effective New Zealand's seam attack might prove.
"It didn't give us much of an insight because the quickest bowlers were only going about 125kph," Carter said.
The performances of New Zealand and England's more experienced quicks would give a more accurate assessment, he said.
The selection of Jeetan Patel to back up Daniel Vettori appears non-negotiable but Fleming was coy on the final composition of his attack -- even before McMillan's medium pacers were put on ice.
Fleming watched snatches of today's game and was to pore over Carter's footage with coach John Bracewell before firming up strategies that may still require modifying after tomorrow's medical report.
- NZPA
