October 24, 2007	Wednesday	Shawwal 11, 1428

WELLINGTON, Oct 23: New Zealand on Tuesday recalled all-rounder James Franklin and named wicket-keeper Gareth Hopkins as a batsman in a new-look one-day squad for next month’s trip to South Africa.

Opener Jamie How was also recalled for the first time since early 2006 in the 14-man squad as New Zealand rebuild after a series of retirements.

New Zealand’s batting stocks have been hard hit after Stephen Fleming, Nathan Astle and Craig McMillan, who boasted 699 one-day caps between them, all called it quits.

Hopkins is back in the side to play three one-dayers and one Twenty20 for the first time since 2004 when he kept wicket in five ODIs against England without batting once.

Selection panel manager Sir Richard Hadlee said the 30-year-old Hopkins was now seen as a specialist batting option at six or seven in what he termed a new era for the side.

“He deserves a spot as a specialist batsman on merit,” Hadlee said. “He is innovative, he can hit the ball to the boundary, and has some deft touches and is very quick between the wickets.”

The inclusion of How gives the selectors another option at the top of the order, with Lou Vincent and Brendon McCullum expected to be the preferred opening partnership.

Franklin and seam bowler Kyle Mills both need to prove their fitness before joining the team after injuries kept them out of the Test squad currently in South Africa.

Squad: Daniel Vettori (captain), Shane Bond, James Franklin, Mark Gillespie, Gareth Hopkins, Jamie How, Michael Mason, Kyle Mills, Brendon McCullum, Jacob Oram, Jeetan Patel, Scott Styris, Ross Taylor, Lou Vincent.—AFP