BUCKLE UP for a huge diet of international cricket over coming months — starting with the BLACKCAPS’ tour of Bangladesh in less than a month’s time, then morphing straight into the BLACKCAPS’ fascinating first trip to Pakistan in 18 years.

With a T20i and Test Series in India and the rescheduled ICC T20 World Cup in the UAE also coming at us this side of Christmas, the national selectors have been hard at work coming up with T20i and ODI squads that factor in adequate rest and wellbeing for the players and support staff named in the World Cup squad this morning — and that spells opportunity for further players and support staff, with 32 players in all selected across the white-ball squads announced today for the busy next four months of cricket.

Bangladesh Tour - live on SPARK Sport:

5 x T20Is at Dhaka Sept 1, 3, 5, 8, 10

Pakistan Tour: - live on SKY Sport:

3 x ODIs at Rawalpindi Sept 17, 19, 21 + 5 x T20Is at Lahore Sept 25, 26, 29, Oct 1, 3

T20 World Cup:

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

India Tour:

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

No players in the 16-strong squad for the T20 World Cup were considered for the five T20s against Bangladesh that start on 2 September, nor the three ODIs in Pakistan beginning 17 September.

Blair Tickner | PHOTOSPORT

From the Central Stags, that means opportunities for WILL YOUNG, BLAIR TICKNER, AJAZ PATEL and DOUG BRACEWELL to tour the subcontinent with all four named in the squad to tour Bangladesh and Pakistan in white-ball cricket.

Ajaz Patel is a potential ODI debutant as he also gets a chance to push his case to add to his two T20 International caps — in conditions likely to be just the ticket for our consistent spinner.

Ajaz Patel | PHOTOSPORT

Doug Bracewell’s encouraging return to the international cricket programme also continues with his name featuring in all three squads for Bangladesh and Pakistan - after having travelled to England with the Test side earlier this year without getting on the park.

New names in the mixer are uncapped, quick young Wellingtonian Ben Sears who has been selected for the T20i squad against Pakistan and Canterbury’s experienced spinning allrounder Cole McConchie who has also received a maiden call-up for the first legs away.

NZC has stated that Wellington Firebirds captain Michael Bracewell — a first cousin to Doug Bracewell — would also have been in line to make his debut on the tours, but has made himself unavailable as he is due to become a father.

Doug Bracewell | PHOTOSPORT

The very familiar name that is missing from today’s squads in ROSS TAYLOR who was also initially selected for the three ODIs in Pakistan. However, with the brief nature of that one-week Series and the length of quarantine protocols, it was decided in conjunction with head coach Gary Stead that Taylor would remain at home to prepare for the Indian Test tour and upcoming home summer.

Martin Guptill, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Todd Astle and Ish Sodhi will all join the team in Pakistan for the five T20is starting 25 September, while the BLACKCAPS involved in the suspended IPL21 will be allowed to re-join their IPL franchises in the lead-up to the World Cup — which includes ADAM MILNE on the Mumbai Indians roster.

With an eye to the Test matches against India in November and December, Devon Conway and Tim Southee will link up with the squad directly from New Zealand in early October.Tom Latham will captain the teams to Bangladesh and Pakistan, and he will have the experience of Henry Nicholls, Colin de Grandhomme, Hamish Bennett, Tom Blundell and Will Young to call on across the tours.

Will Young | PHOTOSPORT

There’s also an alternative coaching staff for the first two tours, with Wellington Firebirds coach Glenn Pocknall assisted by Northern Districts coach Graeme Aldridge (bowling coach) and Melbourne-based Tilan Samaraweera (batting coach), while regular BLACKCAPS assistant Shane Jurgensen rejoins for the Pakistan T20 series, before regular head coach Gary Stead and batting coach Luke Ronchi join up for the T20 World Cup in early October, and stay through to the Indian Tests in December. Follow all that? Good.

The bottom line is that no matter which combination of players and coaches are active at any one time, the goal is the same — to win matches for New Zealand, and an exciting back half of 2021 is about to begin!

T20 TOUR TO BANGLADESH + ODI TOUR TO PAKISTAN

Tom Latham — captain/wicketkeeper, Canterbury Kings

DOUG BRACEWELL — Central Stags

AJAZ PATEL — Central Stags

BLAIR TICKNER — Central Stags

WILL YOUNG — Central Stags

Finn Allen — Wellington Firebirds

Hamish Bennett — Wellington Firebirds

Tom Blundell — wicketkeeper, Wellington Firebirds

Colin de Grandhomme — Northern Knights

Jacob Duffy — Otago Volts

Matt Henry (ODIs only) — Canterbury Kings

Scott Kuggeleijn — Northern Knights

Cole McConchie — uncapped, Canterbury Kings

Henry Nicholls — Canterbury Kings

Rachin Ravindra — Wellington Firebirds

Ben Sears (T20 only) — uncapped, Wellington Firebirds
 

 T20 TOUR TO PAKISTAN

Tom Latham — captain/wicketkeeper, Canterbury Kings

AJAZ PATEL — Central Stags

BLAIR TICKNER — Central Stags

WILL YOUNG — Central Stags

Finn Allen — Wellington Firebirds

Todd Astle — Canterbury Kings

Hamish Bennett — Wellington Firebirds

Tom Blundell — wicketkeeper, Wellington Firebirds

Mark Chapman — Auckland Aces

Colin de Grandhomme — Northern Knights

Martin Guptill — Auckland Aces

Matt Henry — Canterbury Kings

Daryl Mitchell — Canterbury Kings

Ben Sears — uncapped, Wellington Firebirds

Ish Sodhi — Northern Knights
 

See also

WORLD CUP SQUAD — Adam Milne included as cover

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Article added: Tuesday 10 August 2021