Latham, Guptill To Lead New Zealand XI In Practice Games

New Zealand have announced their squads, Tom Latham will captain one game, for two practice games against England.

The Kiwis have announced two separate squads to face England in pink and red ball games respectively.

One one hand, Tom Latham will lead New Zealand in the pink ball game, while Martin Guptill will take charge in red ball contest.

Led by Tom Latham, the squad for the pink-ball game includes Tom Blundell, Colin de Grandhome, Jeet Raval and Mitchell Santner as well.

Blundell, who is among few of the players to be named in both the squads, will have an opportunity to retain his place in the Test side if he performs.

After an injury to BJ Watling, Blundell got a call-up to the Test team against Windies.

He scored a century on his debut and with 136 runs in two Tests, caused a selection headache for Kiwi selectors.

The two games will be a barometer for selectors to keep Blundell or not.

Ish Sodhi, who hasn’t played a Test since past one and a half year, is also in Guptill’s squad and has an opportunity to press his case for selection.

Sodhi was recently recalled to ODI side and can eye a Test comeback now.

England will play two two-day practice games against New Zealand XI with no gap in between the two games.

Meanwhile, the first game is a pink-ball game on March 14 and 15 while the second game is a red ball one.

As mentioned, Latham will lead the team in the first game while Guptill will take over the charge in next game

New Zealand selectors have also named Mark Chapman in Guptill’s squad.

The home side recently lost the ODI series by 3-2.

In the decider contest, New Zealand posted a small total of 223, which England chased down easily.

The Test series starts on March 22 with the first game at Eden Park in Auckland.

The second Test will start on March 30 at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.

NZ XI squad – Two-day pink ball match: Tom Latham (c), Tom Blundell, Colin de Grandhomme, Kyle Jamieson, Scott Kuggeleijn, Henry Nicholls, Seth Rance, Jeet Raval, Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith, Ish Sodhi, George Worker.

NZ XI squad – Two-day red ball match: Martin Guptill (c), Logan van Beek, Mark Chapman, Scott Kuggeleijn, Glenn Phillips, Seth Rance, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Ross Taylor, George Worker, Tom Blundell, Doug Bracewell.