Phillips, Astle added as New Zealand complete squad for India ODIs

Glenn Phillips, Todd Astle, Matt Henry, Henry Nicholls, Colin Munro and George Worker were on Saturday (October 14) added to New Zealand's One-Day International squad for its upcoming series against India.

Ish Sodhi, the legspinner, and Tom Bruce, the middle-order batsman, were named in the Twenty20 International side for the three-match series that will follow the ODIs.

The six players who have been added to the ODI squad, along with Sodhi and Bruce, have been in India since last month as part of the New Zealand A side that is playing India A in a five-match 50-over series in Visakhapatnam.

As per New Zealand Cricket's plan, six spots were left vacant in the 15-member squad for the players in the 'A' series to vie for. While Phillips, Munro, Nicholls and Worker impressed with their batting prowess, Todd Astle, who is yet to play an ODI, earned a place with figures of 4 for 22 in the second tied encounter against India A. Astle bowled well in all three matches so far, at an average of 25.40. Henry was included in the side as a backup pace option for Tim Southee, Trent Boult, and Adam Milne.

Phillips, with a terrific unbeaten knock of 140 in the second match, impressed the selectors, while Worker made the cut with a century in the third match of the series.

Gavin Larsen, New Zealand's selector and manager of the 'A' team, said Astle and Phillips were selected because of their good show in the domestic circuits and in the 'A' games.

"Todd has been one of the best white-ball players in domestic cricket the last few seasons and he's backed that up with a strong showing for New Zealand A," he said. "Todd brings all round skill to the squad, quality leg spin, is athletic in the field as well as being able to contribute with the bat.

"Glenn has made an immediate effect in domestic cricket and has certainly taken his opportunity over here with NZ A, including an outstanding 140 not out. Glenn is an option for us with the gloves in both Twenty20s and ODIs, so we feel we have our bases covered with the 15 we've picked."

Worker, however, is not part of the T20I squad. He makes way for Bruce, who has played four T20Is - one against South Africa, and three against Bangladesh - so far.

Ross Taylor is the only other player from the ODI squad to miss out on a berth in the T20I squad, with Sodhi coming in. Sodhi bagged eight wickets in the two four-day games New Zealand A played against India A before the ODI series.

"It's widely accepted that India in their own backyard is the toughest challenge in cricket, so we'll have to be at our best," added Larsen.

The three ODIs will be played in Mumbai, Pune and Kanpur on October 22, 25 and 29 respectively. The T20Is are scheduled for November 1, 4 and 7 in New Delhi, Rajkot and Thiruvananthapuram respectively.

New Zealand ODI squad: Kane Williamson (capt), Todd Astle, Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham (wk), Henry Nicholls, Adam Milne, Colin Munro, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, George Worker.

New Zealand T20I squad: Kane Williamson (capt), Todd Astle, Trent Boult, Tom Bruce, Colin de Grandhomme, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham (wk), Henry Nicholls, Adam Milne, Colin Munro, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee.