Our Central Stags fast bowler ADAM MILNE is off to the ICC T20 World Cup with the BLACKCAPS.

Milne has been named as the only travelling reserve and the only Central Stag in the squad that will head away to contest cricket’s next major world title, a tournament that will be held in the United Arab Emirates and Oman from 17 October to 14 November this year.

Milne will also be on board with the BLACKCAPS in a three-match warm-up T20 away series against India as his international career continues to rebound.

With Lockie Ferguson named in the BLACKCAPS’ main squad and the complications of international travel in a COVID world, there’s no doubt the selectors want to make doubly sure they have their explosive pace options covered should there be injury.

The T20 World Cup is the first since 2016, after a year’s delay due to COVID-19.

T20 World Cup:

UAE | Oman Oct 24 - Nov 14 (schedule TBA)

India Tour:

3 x T20Is, 2 x Tests in Nov-Dec (schedule TBA)

Ranked third in the men’s T20 world behind England and India, the BLACKCAPS made the semi-finals last time around but will be competing in a strong group — with India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and two more teams that will win a spot from the qualifying rounds.

The tournament is to be played at Dubai International Stadium, the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, the Sharjah Stadium, and the Oman Cricket Academy Ground and while Milne will be with the 15-strong team for the duration, ICC rules dictate that he can only be called into the official squad as an injury replacement for a player no longer able to take part.

After winning a BLACKCAPS recall to the T20i side last summer against Bangladesh here in New Zealand, Milne has been in scorching form abroad for the past few months — for the Mumbai Indians in the (paused) IPL, Kent Spitfires in the Vitality Blast and now for the top of the table Birmingham Phoenix in the first edition of The Hundred where he has been the standout pace weapon in the group matches, with miserly economy rates and sharp reflex catches to go with his express rockets - dismissing Tom Banton for a duck this morning.

After almost two years of his career on the sidelines due to two rounds of ankle surgery, Milne’s simply relishing being consistently on the park — and that regular high pressure cricket feeds back into his form and confidence to do the job.

Milne is a contracted Central Stag for 2021/22 and will no doubt be back in the Stags green later this year, following the return of the BLACKCAPS from the World Cup and the obligatory fortnight’s quarantine in MIQ.

The BLACKCAPS Test squad to play India on the same tour will be announced at a later date.

ICC T20 World Cup Squad

+

India T20i Series

Kane Williamson — captain — Northern Knights

Todd Astle — Canterbury Kings

Trent Boult — Northern Knights

Mark Chapman — Auckland Aces

Devon Conway — Wellington Firebirds

Lockie Ferguson — Auckland Aces

Martin Guptill — Auckland Aces

Kyle Jamieson — Auckland Aces

Daryl Mitchell — Canterbury Kings

Jimmy Neesham — Wellington Firebirds

Glenn Phillips — Auckland Aces

Mitchell Santner — Northern Knights

Tim Seifert — wicketkeeper — Northern Knights

Ish Sodhi  — Northern Knights

Tim Southee — Northern Knights

Injury Cover: ADAM MILNE — Central Stags 

Coaching Staff: 

Gary Stead, Shane Jurgensen, Luke Ronchi + 4th coach TBA

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Article added: Tuesday 10 August 2021