Black Caps wield axe for Windies

FE Team | Published: December 07, 2008 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

New Zealand have dropped bowlers Chris Martin and Tim Southee among four changes ahead of the West Indies Test series which starts Thursday, BBC reports.
After their two-Test loss to Australia, Mark Gillespie replaces Martin, while fit-again all-rounders James Franklin and Jacob Oram return to the team.
Opener Aaron Redmond has disappointed at the crease and is replaced by Tim McIntosh, who scored 78 in a warm-up.
The first Test under new coach Andy Moles starts in Dunedin on 11 December.
Off-spinner Jeetan Patel has been included as specialist back-up to captain Daniel Vettori.
New Zealand head selector Glenn Turner said the demoted Martin would play in the domestic competition to help build his fitness levels after injury.
On Gillespie's addition, Turner added: "He has shown good recent form, bowling a lot of overs and taking eight wickets in his last match. He becomes our strike bowler in this series."
New Zealand named ex-Warwickshire batsman Moles as their new coach two weeks ago, who takes over from John Bracewell.
New Zealand squad: Daniel Vettori, Jamie How, Tim McIntosh, Daniel Flynn, Ross Taylor, Jesse Ryder, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum, James Franklin, Mark Gillespie, Iain O'Brien, Jeetan Patel
Rain upsets England warm-up plans
Coach Peter Moores is worried about England's preparations for the re-arranged Test series in India after rain disrupted training in Abu Dhabi, reports BBC.
Bad weather led to the cancellation of Saturday morning nets at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, prompting Moores to admit practice had been "compromised".
He also says his players need to get themselves in the right mental shape.
"We have been playing one-day cricket for a long time and we need to get ready for Test cricket," he said.
England have set up a training camp in Abu Dhabi while they wait to discover if the two-Test series will go ahead following the Mumbai terror attacks.
Moores says the arrangement is not ideal but wants his team to start focusing on the first Test in Chennai, which starts on 11 December.
"We are practising in the wrong country but the lads are in good spirits," he said. "We cannot use that compromise as an excuse for poor performance.
"Mentally, everyone has to assume we are going. It's about getting your skills ready to go as a batter or a bowler.
"It's such a quick turnaround now, so the lads have got to get themselves together really quickly if they are going to be ready."
Senior England officials have travelled to India to assess security at Chennai.
Hugh Morris, managing director of England cricket, and Sean Morris, chief executive of the Professional Cricketers' Association, will return on Sunday with their conclusions.
An announcement on the future of the tour is expected shortly afterwards.
"There's a general will within the team to go and play these Test matches," added Moores.
"Because, one, people will be representing their country but also in the situation we find ourselves after what happened in Mumbai.
"But everyone will have different opinions and if someone doesn't want to go we will respect that.
"Hopefully we can take our full-strength side there, compete, win the series and have a good Christmas."
The England team went home last Saturday following the attacks in Mumbai, which claimed almost 200 lives over three days.