Henry Nicholls Could be New Zealand's Back-up Keeper at World Cup

New Zealand’s southpaw batsman Henry Nicholls could be their back-up keeper at the upcoming World Cup. Nicholls has taken up the role of the keeper in the past and the Kiwis can turn to him in the mega event. Tom Latham will be the Blackcaps first-choice wicketkeeper at the ODI showpiece set to take place in England.

Meanwhile, Tim Seifert played three matches as the wicketkeeper in the recently concluded series against Sri Lanka, which New Zealand won by 3-0. On the other hand, it is also expected that Kane Williamson-led side will have three spinners in their ranks for the World Cup.

Nicholls is in great form with the bat.

“It’s a possibility,” New Zealand coach Gary Stead said. “Henry has had a little bit of keeping in the past and again that’s a selection question when we sit down to finalise the squad of 15 and work out the balance we need. We’ll work out whether we go that way or have a genuine person who keeps all the time as balance”.

In fact, the Kiwis coach is impressed with the batting skills of Tim Seifert. However, the wicketkeeper-batsman still has some work to do on his keeping skills. On the other hand, Henry Nicholls is in red-hot form. The combative left-hander had smashed 124 runs off just 80 balls in the third ODI against Sri Lanka.

“We got some information we wanted [about Seifert] which was really good, we certainly have no question marks around his ability with the bat and to change a game quickly. We’ve given him some things to go away and work on with the gloves in terms of being a little bit tidier generally, but he’s certainly on the upward ranks in how he’s going with his keeping.”

New Zealand will play five One Day Internationals against the rank number two side India. Furthermore, the Kiwis will lock horns in three T20Is against the Men in Blue. Thus, this series will be good preparation for both sides before the big-ticket event.