WELLINGTON, Jan 12: Former All Blacks winger Jeff Wilson was recalled to New Zealand's cricket team on Wednesday for matches against a World Invitational team later this month, after a 12 year absence from the international game.

New Zealand will play a Rest of the World team, captained by Australia leg spinner Shane Warne, to raise money for tsunami victims and plug a gap in the programme caused by the cancellation of the series with Sri Lanka.

Wilson, who retired from rugby in 2002, last played for the national team in 1993 before giving up cricket to concentrate on an All Black career. He said he had been working towards selection for the national team since resuming domestic first class cricket.

"Now that I have this chance I am looking forward to getting in there and making the most of it," Wilson said in a statement. New Zealand coach John Bracewell said Wilson was a dynamic cricketer with much to offer.

"His match turning ability is undoubted and we just need to see if he can step up to this level again," Bracewell said. "We are keen to explore another option for a bowler who can bat well in the closing overs."

NEW ZEALAND: Stephen Fleming (captain), Nathan Astle, Chris Cairns, Hamish Marshall, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Mathew Sinclair, Scott Styris, Daryl Tuffey, Daniel Vettori, Jeff Wilson. -Reuters