Shanan Stewart called up to A squad

Canterbury batsman Shanan Stewart has been included in the New Zealand A side for the two one-day matches against the visiting England Lions. Stewart, 26, has played for New Zealand A before during the 2006 series in Australia.

"He's [Stewart] been playing some very good cricket this season and has performed particularly well in one-day and Twenty20 competitions," Glenn Turner, the head New Zealand's selection panel, said.

New Zealand A are currently playing the second unofficial Test against England Lions after drawing the first. The one-dayers will be played on March 13 and 16 in Palmerston North. The series finishes with a Twenty20 at New Plymouth on March 19.

Squad: Craig Cumming (capt), Brent Arnel, Brendon Diamanti, James Franklin, Gareth Hopkins, Peter Ingram, Nathan McCullum, James Marshall, Michael Mason, Aaron Redmond, Shanan Stewart, Ewen Thompson.