Rain thwarts Kent trio

By Charles Randall at Palmerston North

RAIN wiped out the England Lions’ first one-day international against New Zealand A at Fitzherbert Park yesterday, though an attempt will be made to play the game today, opening the possiblity of three Kent men playing in the same side — Rob Key, Joe Denly and Robbie Joseph (pictured).

The New Zealander selectors withdrew two players from the two one-dayers and drafted them into the squad for the first Test against India at Hamilton next week — Graham Napier’s Wellington colleague James Franklin and seamer Brent Arnel — which accentuated a much-changed look from the drawn Test series against Key’s Lions.

Glenn Turner, chairman of selectors, said that Arnel, 30, had been the most effective of the bowlers to face the Lions and that he deserved his chance in a squad of 13. The Northern Districts seamer proved very durable against the English visitors, and a Test debut would be warmly received at Beckenham, Key’s old club in Kent where Arnel spent last summer.

Franklin’s place for the one-day series and the Twenty20 game at New Plymouth next Thursday will be taken by the former Middlesex all-rounder Scott Styris, recovering from a thumb operation. The Otago bowler Warren McSkimming replaces Arnel. The captain is Craig Cumming.

Picture courtesy of Getty Images