McMillan left out for Australia tour

Batsman Craig McMillan has again been left out of New Zealand's Test side for their tour of Australia starting later this month.

McMillan also missed the 2-0 Test series victory over Bangladesh, completed last week when Stephen Fleming's side won the second Test in Chittagong by an innings and 101 runs, though he is playing the one-day series in Bangladesh.

Hamish Marshall replaced McMillan in Bangladesh and his one innings of 69 in the second Test was enough to see him kept for the Australian tour when the 14-man squad, which was unchanged from the Bangladesh series, was named on Monday.

Fleming will return to lead the side after being rested for the Bangladesh one-day series, as does all rounder Jacob Oram, who was also rested for the one-dayers. Seamer Daryl Tuffey was not considered because of injury.

"Marshall has done the job asked of him, even though he has had just one Test innings in Bangladesh," New Zealand's chief selector Richard Hadlee said in a statement.

"It

is one of the biggest challenges in cricket to play Australia, the world champions, on their home soil and the Black Caps are very much looking forward to the challenge.

"The squad have been working well as a team and have done what has been asked of them -- to win and win well."

New Zealand play New South Wales in a warm-up match before the first Test against Australia starts in Brisbane on November 18, while the second begins in Adelaide on November 26. There are also three one-day matches after the Tests.

"The Adelaide wicket has traditionally taken spin so we have covered our options by having both Daniel Vettori and Paul Wiseman in the squad," Hadlee said.

All three Tests on New Zealand's last tour to Australia in 2001-02 ended in draws.

Squad: Stephen Fleming (captain), Nathan Astle, Ian Butler, James Franklin, Hamish Marshall, Chris Martin, Brendan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Mark Richardson, Mathew Sinclair, Scott Styris, Daniel Vettori, Paul Wiseman.