New Zealand Hit By Injuries Ahead Of Final ODI
Grant Elliot (left) collides with Ryan Sidebottom (right) at The Brit Oval. The collision has left him doubtful for the Lord's match.
©Action Images / Lee Mills Livepic
Mills has suffered a lower back spasm while Elliott, who was involved in the controversial run out in the fourth match, has a bruised thigh courtesy of the collision with Ryan Sidebottom.
Mills tweaked his back during batting practice at Lord's. Mills and Elliott both produced career-best performances with the bat at Bristol, where New Zealand won by 22 runs and should neither make the final eleven, Gareth Hopkins and Michael Mason will come into the side for the match.
New Zealand lead the series 2-1 while England will be captained by Kevin Pietersen in the absence of suspended Paul Collingwood. Andrew Strauss has been called into the side as batting cover but Dimitri Mascarenhas may be in line for a start if England decide to replace Collingwood with another all-rounder.
Pietersen has only ever captained one match in his professional career, leading Nottinghamshire Seconds to a three-wicket win over Lancashire Seconds in 2002.
New Zealand: Brendon McCullum, Jamie How, Ross Taylor, Scott Styris, Daniel Flynn, Jacob Oram, Grant Elliot or Gareth Hopkins, Daniel Vettori (captain), Kyle Mills or Michael Mason, Tim Southee, Mark Gillespie
England: Ian Bell, Luke Wright, Kevin Pietersen (captain), Ravi Bopara, Owais Shah, Andrew Strauss or Dimitri Mascarenhas or Alastair Cook, Tim Ambrose (wicket-keeper), Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, Ryan Sidebottom, James Anderson or Chris Tremlett
© Cricket World 2008
