New Zealand Announce Squad For India ODIs

New Zealand, on Thursday, announced their 14-man squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against India. Both the teams are currently playing each other in the five-match T20I series. India have already wrapped up the series by winning the first three games of the series.

The Black Caps have been forced to name a new-look pace attack for the upcoming series because of injuries to first-choice pacers Trent Boult, Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson. All the three pacers have been on the sidelines since suffering injuries on the Test tour of Australia. While Henry suffered a broken thumb, Boult and Ferguson have been sidelined with a broken hand and a calf strain respectively.

New Zealand, however, are hopeful that Boult will recover in time for the Test series that follows the ODIs. The two-match Test series will start on February 21. Scott Kuggeleijn, Hamish Bennett and uncapped Kyle Jamieson form the pace attack for the ODI series. Veteran pacer Tim Southee will lead the new-look attack.

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Neither Kuggelejin nor Bennett has been a regular for New Zealand in ODIs in recent months. In fact, both of them played their most recent ODIs almost three years ago in 2017. Both the players are part of the ongoing T20I series. Leg-spinner Ish Sodhi has been named in the squad for only the first ODI. After the series-opener, he will join New Zealand A for the four-day match against India A.

In batting department, incumbent Martin Guptill will open the innings with Henry Nicholls. New Zealand’s batting department has been boosted by the return of Tom Latham who was out with a broken finger. Jimmy Neesham and Colin de Grandhomme are the fast-bowling allrounders in the squad.

“Tim Southee has an important job leading our new look pace attack, which has a huge opportunity against some of the very best batsmen in the world,” coach Gary Stead said. “While the bowling lineup has a fresh look, the batting is very settled and we’ll likely have the same top eight batsmen from the World Cup finals.

“Jimmy and Colin continue as the pace bowling allrounders after strong campaigns in England and they will offer us plenty of firepower and versatility. Henry will remain at the top of the order after impressing in the opportunities he’s had. He’s been in good form opening for Canterbury in the latest rounds of the Ford Trophy with a hundred and a half century to his name,” he further added.

New Zealand squad:

Kane Williamson (c), Hamish Bennett, Tom Blundell, Colin de Grandhomme, Martin Guptill, Kyle Jamieson, Scott Kuggeleijn, Tom Latham (wk), Jimmy Neesham, Henry Nicholls, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi (only 1st ODI), Tim Southee, Ross Taylor