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New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has announced a 19-member squad for the three-match four-day series against India A, which features 11 international players. The first game will be in Lincoln on Saturday, Oct. 24.
The next three-match, four-day series will be a great chance for New Zealand’s players to prove themselves against some of India’s best. This series will run alongside the ongoing five-match T20I series between the India National Cricket Team and the New Zealand National Cricket Team. Amid this, Harry Brook scripts history, surpasses Shubman Gill with record-breaking double century.
New Zealand Cricket announce 19-member squad for India A series
New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has confirmed that the 19-member squad will be rotated across the three matches of the four-day series against India A, with 13 players selected for each game. The remaining six players will get an opportunity to play in the 50-over Ford Trophy, which begins on October 28.
Rhys Mariu will lead New Zealand A in the first two matches and the captain for the third and final game is yet to be announced. Nick Kelly, who was awarded a NZC central contract earlier this year, is expected to feature in the third game.
The squad also includes Adi Ashok, Kristian Clarke, Dean Foxcroft, Matt Fisher, Mitchell Hay, Jayden Lennox, Ben Lister, Henry Nicholls, and Tim Robinson.
Apart from Mariu, Dean Foxcroft will be available for all three matches. Matt Boyle, Curtis Heaphy, Simon Keene, Fraser Sheat, and Jarrod McKay will also play every game. Earlier, Ishan Kishan's injury opens door for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's comeback to India XI vs New Zealand.
New Zealand A excited to face India stars
New Zealand A will face a strong Indian side featuring KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel, Akash Deep, Devdutt Padikkal, Auqib Nabi, Washington Sundar, and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Rishabh Pant could also be a part of the team but it will depend on his fitness.
New Zealand Cricket's head of high-performance development, Pete Sanford, is excited about the opportunity to host India A. He believes playing against such high-quality opponents will help New Zealand's players improve their game and test their abilities against international-level competition.
Sanford said in a NZC statement, “We're really looking forward to hosting India A. They [India] have announced a very strong lineup, which poses a great opportunity for growth as players to test their strengths against an international class. There's a huge buzz around having India on our shores, and I know the squad are raring to get their domestic summer underway.”
Cam Paul gets golden chance to make his mark
Meanwhile, exciting 21-year-old fast-bowling all-rounder Cam Paul will make his New Zealand A debut in the third match after missing the previous tour due to injury. Paul has played five first-class matches, taken wickets at an average of just under 22 and claimed two five-wicket hauls.
Paul said of India A opportunity, “You always want to test yourself against the best, and potentially playing against some of those guys is a huge opportunity. I was gutted to just miss out on the last tour, so I'm fazed to be part of the squad and take that next step up.”
New Zealand A squad for 1st four-day match vs India A
Rhys Mariu (C), Matt Boyle, Max Chu, Kristian Clarke, Dean Foxcroft, Zak Gibson, Mitchell Hay (wk), Curtis Heaphy, Tim Robinson, Fraser Sheat, Simon Keene, Jayden Lennox, Jarrod McKay.
New Zealand A squad for 2nd four-day match vs India A
Rhys Mariu (c), Matt Boyle, Mitchell Hay (wk), Curtis Heaphy, Kristian Clarke, Matt Fisher, Dean Foxcroft, Zak Gibson, Simon Keene, Jayden Lennox, Jarrod McKay, Tim Robinson, Fraser Sheat.
New Zealand A squad for 3rd four-day match vs India A
Adi Ashok, Matt Boyle, Max Chu (wk), Dean Foxcroft, Curtis Heaphy, Cam Paul, Henry Nicholls, Fraser Sheat, Simon Keene, Nick Kelly, Ben Lister, Rhys Mariu, Jarrod McKay.
