On Thursday, the New Zealand all-rounders Mitchell Santner, Colin de Grandhomme, along with batsman Tom Latham have come back to the national squad, as New Zealand announced a full-strength squad for the first three ODIs against India on Wednesday. The five-match ODI series begins from January 23, which is set to mark the return of Santner after an injury break of 10 months. The left-arm spinner proved his fitness in the one-off T20I against Sri Lanka before making a comeback in the ODI set-up.
The other two crucial cogs of New Zealand’s ODI side, Grandhomme and Latham too returned to the side after being rested from the recently concluded ODI series against Sri Lanka.
Describing the same, New Zeland head coach, Gary Stead said, “Tom and Colin are experienced players in this format and will offer quality in their respective roles, and Mitch and Doug showed us what they are capable of during the T20 on Friday night.”
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Stead was particularly impressed with all-rounder Doug Bracewell and hence he took the decision for ODI series against India. Bracewell did not play a single match in the three one-dayers against Sri Lanka but impressed with both bat and ball in the lone T20I that followed.
With Latham’s return, Tim Seifert who was fulfilling the wicket-keeping responsibilities against Sri Lanka found no place in the team.
All-rounder Jimmy Neesham and leg-spinner Todd Astle have also been dropped because of their respective injuries. Neesham has a hamstring niggle and Astle is nursing a knee injury. However, the Blackcaps are hopeful of their return for the last two ODIs.
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With a handful of ODIs before the ODI World Cup in May, New Zealand is hoping to make this series count. Describing the same, Stead said, “Our two main priorities have been to select and prepare a squad capable of winning what is shaping as a massive series against India, and gathering as much information as possible ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup in England and Wales.”
New Zealand Squad for first three ODIs vs India:
Kane Williamson (capt), Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham (wk), Colin Munro, Henry Nicholls, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor
