Harris and Cairns are given World Cup chance

New Zealand have dismissed injury concerns and included both Chris Harris and Chris Cairns in their World Cup squad. Harris has played a record 216 one-day internationals, his 192 wickets are also a national record, as are his 87 catches â“ a mark equalled by Stephen Fleming in the victory over India here on New Year's Day. It will be Harris's fourth World Cup.</p>A shoulder injury, suffered in an early-season match, forced Harris out of the squad to play India and he has struggled for form since. However, the selectors have opted to retain his services ahead of Paul Hitchcock, who was being groomed as a one-day specialist and put up some strong performances in the games against India.</p>"Paul Hitchcock has not let us down," the Kiwis' chairman of selectors, Richard Hadlee, said yesterday. "He has had limited opportunities to bowl at the death, which was one of his specialities, because of our dominance over India at the moment.</p>"That was a very tough call, but he was omitted as a specialist to give the chance for another all rounder."</p>Also included, not yet having played any international games this summer, were Cairns and Andre Adams. Cairns has struggled for fitness, having not yet recovered from two knee operations in the past 12 months, while Adams has proved himself in the early rounds of the State Shield.</p>The fast bowler, Shane Bond, who is suffering a side strain and has not played in the last two one-day internationals against India, has been rested as a precaution.</p>"We are too close to where we want to go and want to be and we are not prepared to gamble," Hadlee said.</p>NEW ZEALAND WORLD CUP SQUAD: </i>S P Fleming (capt), A R Adams, N J Astle, S E Bond, C L Cairns, C Z Harris, B B McCullum, C D McMillan, K D Mills, J D P Oram, M S Sinclair, S B Styris, D R Tuffey, D L Vettori, L Vincent. </p>