Mills sustained a rib injury during the third and final Test at Trent Bridge last week and has been ruled out of the forthcoming one-day triangular NatWest Series, it was announced on Tuesday.

The 25-year-old from Auckland made his Test debut in Nottingham but is more established in the limited-overs side having played 32 One-Day Internationals for his country since 2001.

The left-arm swing bowler James Franklin, who joined the Test squad prior to the Trent Bridge Test to bolster the depleted party, will stay on as his replacement in the one-day squad.

Mills managed just six overs in England's first innings and not did not take the field at all in their second innings.

Franklin returned to the Test side to win his third cap after more than three years' absence.

He was called up from his club cricket commitments in the Lancashire League with Rishton.

The 23-year-old Wellingtonian impressed on his comeback taking 4 for 104 in the first innings and 2 for 59 in the second.

Like Mills he is more experienced in the One-Day International arena having made 28 appearances for his country in the shorter format -- although the last one was in April 2002.

Mills is the second Black Cap to head home due to injury after the fast bowler Shane Bond was forced to miss the whole Test series.

Bond, one of the stars of the 2003 World Cup, is trying to make a complete recovery from a back ailment and was replaced by fellow paceman Ian Butler.

The New Zealand Herald reported that Daniel Vettori and Michael Papps, both of whom missed the Trent Bridge Test due to injuries, will stay on with the one-day squad.

Vettori sustained a hamstring strain in the Second Test at Headingley while Papps broke a finger in his left hand in the first innings at Leeds.

The other players who suffered injuries in the 14-man Test squad were Craig McMillan, also with a broken finger, Jacob Oram with a side strain and Daryl Tuffey and Nathan Astle, both with knee injuries.

New Zealand begin their NatWest Series campaign against England in a day-night match at Old Trafford on June 24. The competition also involves the West Indies. The final will be held at Lord's on July 10.