Worker to open in ODIS

George Worker will open the batting for the Black Caps in their ODI series against the West Indies, with Martin Guptill ruled out of contention due to his hamstring injury.

Worker is a regular in the role for Central Districts in white-ball cricket, and will partner Colin Munro, who is coming off a strong showing on the recent tour of India.

Worker, 28, said he was excited to get a chance up top in international cricket, after four ODIS and two Twenty20s where he batted in the middle order.

‘‘I’ve been in the squad in the past,’’ he said. ‘‘But I have never been given that confirmation that I’m going to open the batting, so to have that, it’s pretty exciting.’’

With Guptill certain to return to the side once fit, Worker and Munro could almost be considered to be in competition with each other, as the 2019 World Cup in England draws ever closer.

But Worker will be focusing on his work in each match, and not paying too much attention to the bigger picture.

‘‘All I can do is go out there and enjoy it and hopefully do well, and going forward, let the selections take care of themselves.’’

The rest of the squad features some mixing and matching in order to manage workloads.

Captain Kane Williamson will play just the opening game, in Whangarei next Wednesday, before being rested from the second and third matches as well as the first of the three Twenty20 internationals which follow.

Tim Southee will also feature in just the series opener, with Tom Latham to captain the side in the second and third ODIS.

Neil Broom will replace Williamson for the Christchurch matches, while Mitchell Santner will come in for Southee, with the spinning all-rounder to miss the opening ODI to ease a niggling shoulder injury.