Black Caps select Ish Sodhi for the first two One-Dayers against England

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) opened up for the services of leg-spinner Ish Sodhi for the first two one-dayers against England. The opportunity came to Sodhi in the aftermath of injury woes to Mitchell Santner and Todd Astle.

Further, the Kiwis named the same thirteen players who participated in the One-Day series against Pakistan. Sodhi was an integral part of New Zealand’s campaign in the Trans Tasman Tri-Nation series against England and Australia.

A T20I specialist for the Black Caps, the last time Sodhi feature in an ODI was back in May 2017. The first of the five-match ODI series will be played at Seddon Park, Hamilton. The action will move to the picturesque Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui for the second ODI.

“Both Mitchell and Todd have had injury concerns recently, so having Ish Sodhi travel with us gives further options in the spin department,” quoted New Zealand’s chief selector, Gavin Larsen, according to Cricbuzz.

The Black Caps are on a roll in ODI cricket at the moment having won their last eight matches (against Pakistan and West Indies).

“Having won the previous eight matches, we’ve been able to keep good consistency in the selection of our ODI squad. We still have a number of guys pushing their case in domestic cricket and that’s pleasing, but this is the squad for the first two matches of the series,” further added Larsen.

Squad:

Kane Williamson(c), Todd Astle, Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson, Colin de Grandhomme, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Colin Munro, Henry Nicholls, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Ish Sodhi

Schedule:

Feb 25, Sun New Zealand vs. England, 1st ODI
Seddon Park, Hamilton

Feb 28, Wed New Zealand vs. England, 2nd ODI
Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui

Mar 03, Sat New Zealand vs. England, 3rd ODI
Westpac Stadium, Wellington

Mar 07, Wed New Zealand vs. England, 4th ODI
University Oval, Dunedin

Mar 10, Sat New Zealand vs. England, 5th ODI
Hagley Oval, Christchurch

Mar 22, Thu – Mar 26, Mon New Zealand vs. England, 1st Test
Eden Park, Auckland

Mar 30, Fri – Apr 03, Tue New Zealand vs. England, 2nd Test
Hagley Oval, Christchurch