CDCA is celebrating T20 International recalls for TOM BRUCE and SETH RANCE who — along with star ROSS TAYLOR — are back in black for the three-match series in Sri Lanka that will also feature a tour warm-up match next Thursday.

Selector Gavin Larsen said the Series represented the start of a new T20 International cycle, with nine T20 Series scheduled for the BLACKCAPS ahead of next October’s ICC T20 World Cup in Australia.

The recall is further recognition of Tom Bruce’s outstanding 2018/19 Domestic summer which saw the aggressive hitter captain the Central Stags for the first time, lead them to the Super Smash trophy; and personally collect the award for NZC Super Smash Men’s Player of the Year.

Tom slammed 353 runs from 11 innings in last summer’s Super Smash, averaging 39.22 including two half centuries — his top score an unbeaten 88 — at an explosive 157.58 season strike rate.

Seth Rance meanwhile claimed 10 strikes in nine games and can’t wait to see action in Sri Lanka where his ability to swing the ball prodigiously will marry up nicely with the expected conditions.

Seth heads over to Sri Lanka from Wairarapa’s Greytown where he has been wintering at home as one of the town’s volunteer firefighters while Tom rejoins the BLACKCAPS from an off-season slaying runs in England as the pro for Surrey league club Weybridge.

Tom — who played for the Sussex Sharks last year — has also played a handful of Surrey second XI T20 matches in the 2019 UK season, with an 85 off 58 balls against Gloucestershire’s 2nd XI the highlight.

Tom made his BLACKCAPS debut in Napier at the start of 2017 and has played 14 T20 matches for New Zealand, scoring his maiden half century (59 not out) off Bangladesh at Bay Oval, and even filling in as a wicketkeeper.

His last T20i appearance was against Australia at the SCG in early 2018 and, after caps against Australia, the West Indies, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and South Africa, he’s looking forward to a chance to add Sri Lanka to that list and show the world his true ability.

Seth meanwhile featured in New Zealand A’s head-turning one-day series against Australia’s shadow World Cup squad in May. He has played two full-status ODIs and five T20is for the BLACKCAPS since his 2017 debut.

The strong right-armer’s best T20i haul to date is 3-26 against Pakistan; he’s also claimed a 3-30 against the West Indies and, like his good mate Tom, is looking forward to facing the unique challenge of Sri Lanka in their own conditions for the first time.

New Zealand’s most-capped T20 International player with a career strike rate of 121+, Ross Taylor will be in line to pull on the black kit in his 89th T20 International in Kandy where the first T20i will start in the wee smalls (NZT) of Sunday 1 September.

This short, sharp series will be a litmus test ahead of England’s impending visit to our shores which will see the World Cup Champions (we know… too soon, right!) play T20is against our BLACKCAPS in both Nelson at 2pm, Tuesday 5 November and Napier under lights at 6pm, Friday 8 November.

Member pre-sales for BLACKCAPS v ENGLAND are on sale now with a discount for Cricket Nation members. It’s free to join, sign up and secure your tickets here.

CDCA congratulates Seth, Tom, Ross and all the BLACKCAPS on their selections, and wishes them an exciting and successful Series in Sri Lanka.

BLACKCAPS IN SRI LANKA — T20 Internationals

[All dates & times here are in New Zealand time, live on SKY Sport]

     • First T20 1.30AM | Sunday 1 September Pallekele International Stadium, Kandy

     • Second T20 1.30AM | Tuesday 3 September Pallekele International Stadium, Kandy

     • Third T20 1.30AM | Friday 6 September Pallekele International Stadium, Kandy

SQUAD

     Tim Southee — captain — Knights

     Todd Astle — Canterbury Kings

     TOM BRUCE — CENTRAL STAGS

     Colin de Grandhomme — Knights

     Lockie Ferguson — Auckland Aces

     Martin Guptill — Auckland Aces

     Scott Kuggeleijn — Knights

     Daryl Mitchell — Knights

     Colin Munro — Auckland Aces

     SETH RANCE — CENTRAL STAGS

     Mitchell Santner — Knights

     Ish Sodhi — Knights

     Tim Seifert — wicketkeeper — Knights

     ROSS TAYLOR — CENTRAL STAGS

Article added: Tuesday 20 August 2019

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