Black Caps make two changes

Michael Mason is out with a side strain © Getty Images

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New Zealand have made two changes for the final two matches of the one-day series against England after seamer Michael Mason failed to recover from his side strain.

Mason impressed during New Zealand's emphatic 10-wicket victory at Hamilton last Tuesday but strained his side and missed England's fightback on Friday, when they kept the series alive with a six-wicket triumph.

Paul Hitchcock, playing his first one-day international for four years, replaced Mason at Eden Park but has lost his place for the remainder of the series after conceding 56 runs in only seven overs.

He has been replaced by Wellington seamer Iain O'Brien, who was added to the squad as cover for the Auckland game, while hard-hitting batsman Daniel Flynn has also been called up.

Flynn has scored three centuries so far this season, two in the State Shield competition, including 149 against Canterbury, and one in the State Championship and averages 52 in first-class cricket and 47 in the one-day competition.

England have already faced him this season - in the second Twenty20 International at Christchurch - when he scored only two, but he is rated as one of New Zealand's best young players.

Aggressive opener Jesse Ryder, who sprained his left ankle during Friday's defeat, will have extensive physiotherapy on the injury over the next two days in an attempt to have him fit for Wednesday's fourth match in Napier.