The New Zealand cricket team has been forced to call up a reinforcement just two days after arriving in Australia.

Craig McMillan will join the Black Caps as cover for the four-day tour match against NSW at the SCG starting on Thursday.

He was called up because NZ captain Stephen Fleming is still recovering from a virus.

Bracewell said bringing McMillan into the squad was the sensible thing to do despite Fleming's expected arrival in Sydney on Friday.

"While we believe that Stephen will be right for the Test match it is important that, with it being such a short flight, we have someone like Craig to come and join the team," he said.

Bracewell said a decision on how long McMillan stayed on tour would be made at the end of the tour match.

The Black Caps picked Scott Styris as captain for the warm-up match after stand-in skipper Daniel Vettori decided to rest his sore shoulder before the first Test against Australia starting Thursday week in Brisbane.

Bracewell said Styris was chosen as skipper so that allrounder Jacob Oram could concentrate on his bowling.

"Jacob Oram would have perhaps been seen as an obvious choice but this is not about preparing a captain for a Test match," Bracewell said.

"Jacob has not had any cricket for 10 days and we want him to concentrate on his major role as an all-rounder, and especially his bowling."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP