Dave Gee: Life from Right Field

Great cricketing news today, with big smasher Craig McMillan called back into the Black Caps as cover for his brother-in-law, the injured Nathan Astle.

(Astle has a badly bruised thigh, after being hit with the ball while batting in the first ODI against Sri Lanka.)

McMillan was dropped from the Black Caps by John Bracewell earlier this year, and even missed out a New Zealand Cricket contract mid-year, after a run of poor form with the bat.

While we probably do still need Astle in the lineup, it would be great to see Macca back in Black. He's been having a very good domestic season with the bat, and has a ODI average of 27.47 from 175 matches.

The aggressive batsman might even be handy as a part-time bowler as well, given New Zealand's lack of success with the ball. Macca was always known for having a bit of a "golden arm", and seemed to have an uncanny ability for breaking up niggly partnerships.

The Black Caps second One Day International against Sri Lanka is in Queenstown tomorrow.