Kiwis wary of Mills burden

Kyle Mills will play no part in New Zealand's match against England Lions © Getty Images

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New Zealand admit they will have to manage the workload of key seamer Kyle Mills if he is to get through the three-Test series against England unscathed.

Mills’ importance to the tourists’ attack was underlined during the winter when he claimed 10 wickets in only two Tests against England, including a match-winning spell of four wickets in 25 balls in the opening Test in Hamilton.

England fought back to seal a series triumph with victory in the final Test at Napier, when all-rounder Jacob Oram (hip) and Mills (knee) were missing because of their punishing workload in the opening two Tests.

It is a lesson New Zealand are determined to learn for the forthcoming series with 29-year-old Mills being rested for the four-day match against England Lions, the tourists’ final game before next week’s opening Test at Lord’s.

Captain Daniel Vettori, who also sits out the game at the Rose Bowl after sustaining a cut left index finger during the victory at Essex, admitted: “He’s one of those guys who hasn’t got much of a first-class background and hasn’t played a huge amount of cricket.

“Sometimes we find he has a propensity to get injured because he hasn’t got that cricket under his belt.

"We’re looking at him for the three Tests and for him to be still firing at the start of July for our last one-dayer.

“We want to be able to manage him through that knowing what happened to him with the workload back in New Zealand, so it’s more a precautionary thing rather than getting them all bowling.

Tim Southee in action on his Test debut against England in the winter © Getty Images

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“He got through 30 overs in the last game. He can work here and hopefully be raring to go for three Test matches.”

Mills is likely to take his place at Lord’s next week alongside 19-year-old Tim Southee, who made a quick impression in the final Test at Napier by claiming a five-wicket haul in the first innings and hammering an unbeaten 77 off only 40 balls in the second.

It is a performance that has sealed his place at Lord’s, providing he can shrug off a back injury and perform during the next four days against the Lions.

“His performance in that Napier Test match was outstanding, so he’s right at the forefront in our mind in terms of selection and also for a long period of time,” said Vettori.

“He’s got that natural talent, particularly with the ball, and we’ve got small resources and if Tim goes the way he did in his first Test match then he’s got real potential.

“He’s a pretty low-key guy, nothing much fazes him and he’s got a really good understanding of his own game.

“When you see guys come into the team, particularly at 19, who know how to set their own fields and know what they want to do in any given situation then you feel pretty comfortable with them.”

Despite not having a headline act in their line-up, New Zealand are a side to be feared, according to Lions captain Rob Key, who leads England’s second string against the tourists.

“I think they’re a team that should never be underestimated,” admitted the Kent captain. “They’ll be trying to hit their straps now. They had a good win against Essex and they’ll be looking to get going now.

“I’ve been on England tours when you’re just trying to find your feet in the first game, but I think this will be a game with a lot more intensity.”