Blackcaps names squad for series in UAE
New Zealand Cricket has announced the Black Caps squad for the ODI and T20I series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates in November this year.
The squad is:
Daniel Vettori (Captain)
Shane Bond
Neil Broom
Ian Butler
James Franklin
Martin Guptill
Brendon McCullum
Nathan McCullum
Kyle Mills
Jacob Oram
Aaron Redmond
Tim Southee
Scott Styris
Ross Taylor
BJ Watling
Confirmation of Oram and Vettori's selection will be subject to fitness assessments.
Jesse Ryder, Daryl Tuffey, Brendon Diamanti and Grant Elliott were not considered for selection as they are recovering from injuries sustained during the ICC Champions Trophy tournament.
Batsman Bradley-John Watling earns his first call-up to the Black Caps squad after strong performances with the bat during the past year. South African-born Watling finished third in the 2008-09 State Shield batting averages and MVP rankings, with an average of 63.62 including a top score of 113 not out, against Auckland in January.
Watling toured this year with the New Zealand Emerging Players in Australia, hitting scores of 94 and 115 not out, and recorded a top score of 97 with the New Zealand A side in India. Watling will also provide wicketkeeping cover.
All-rounder Scott Styris returns to the squad after last playing a one-day international against India in March. He played in the ICC World Twenty20 2009 and was called into the ICC Champions Trophy squad earlier this month as cover for Grant Elliott, but was not required to play.
Pace bowler Tim Southee also comes back into the squad. He last played in limited-overs internationals during the Chappell-Hadlee series and India tour last summer, and toured recently with the NZ Emerging Players and New Zealand A sides.
Nathan McCullum comes in to the side after playing in the limited-overs series in Sri Lanka, while Aaron Redmond is selected as a top order batsman ? the role he played after being called in to the ICC Champions Trophy 2009.
Black Caps captain and selector Daniel Vettori said despite a number of injuries in the wider squad, there was close competition for key places in the side.
?This tour is a good opportunity for Watling to get a taste of top level cricket ? as selectors we believe he's got strong potential as a top-order batsman,? said Vettori. ?Aaron Redmond's made a strong case for his inclusion with confident performances at the ICC World Twenty20 and Champions Trophy this year?.
?Nathan McCullum and Tim Southee will give us flexibility and options which will suit the short, sharp nature of this tour ? but Jeetan Patel and Iain O'Brien are continuing to push hard for places in the squad.?
Vettori said he was pleased to be able to take a strong side to the UAE series. ?Coming off a great performance in the ICC Champions Trophy there's a confidence in the squad that we can do well in this series on neutral ground,? said Vettori.
?It's disappointing that we will be without some key players ? but our campaign in South Africa showed there's depth in the squad, with a number of players available to step up and perform.?
The squad leaves New Zealand for Dubai on 27 October. The first of three ODIs against Pakistan is on 3 November at Abu Dhabi. The series closes with two Twenty20 Internationals on 12 and 13 November at Dubai, before both teams travel to New Zealand for the three-Test series.
