One quick to be added to NZ side
THREE of New Zealand’s fastest bowlers are vying to be the Black Caps’ ‘‘plusone’’.
The Black Caps yesterday named a squad of 12 for the opening test against the West Indies beginning on December 1.
It is a list of all the usual suspects but included a large carrot for one lucky New Zealand A player.
The selectors will add an extra member to the test squad following the threeday warmup match between New Zealand A and the West Indies beginning on November 25.
It is perhaps a thinly disguised invitation for the New Zealand A pace unit of Lockie Ferguson, Adam Milne and Scott Kuggeleijn to shine.
Black Caps selector Gavin Larsen is in Dunedin this week to watch the firstclass game between Otago and Central Districts at the University Oval.
He told the Otago Daily Times the trio had a good opportunity ahead.
‘‘We are not going to go up front and say who we are going to add and what skills we are looking for,’’ he said.
‘‘But there would be a probability that we will have a good look at Milne, Kuggeleijn and Ferguson against the Windies and see how they go.’’
Ferguson was in terrific form last week. He picked up 12 wickets for Auckland in the 135run win against an Otago side which contained many experienced batsmen.
Kuggeleijn has been one of the bestperformed seamers in the country for the past two seasons, and Milne is probably the quickest in the country when he is fit and in rhythm.
‘‘We are looking at the [New Zealand A] game with the red ball in mind but there is a lot of white ball cricket this season.
‘‘What selection is about is players putting compelling performances on the board.’’
Black Caps wicketkeeper BJ Watling has been named in the test squad but he has a hip complaint and will need to prove his fitness with the gloves during Northern Districts’ round five match against Otago at Molyneux Park next week.
Watling is playing as a specialist batsman for his association this week so he should be fine.
However, if he is ruled out, then New Zealand A keeper Tom Blundell will probably earn promotion, although Northern Districts gloveman Tim Siefert is another player the selectors are hoping to develop and give opportunities to.
All of the Black Caps have been made available for the Plunket Shield this week and Larsen said it was crucial the internationals showed their class at domestic level before the test series against the West Indies.
‘‘I think we are going to see some spicy cricket across the country for the next four days. To me it must lift the bar and the standard of cricket being played.
‘‘As a selector, you expect the incumbents to go back to domestic cricket and excel and dominate.’’
OTAGO allrounder Jimmy Neesham has fallen down another notch in the pecking order and has some work ahead to regain his spot in the Black Caps squad.
The 27yearold, who has been hampered by a back injuries, was yesterday overlooked for a place in the New Zealand A team.
Provincial teammate Neil Broom was named in the team and will get an opportunity to push for place in the test squad when New Zealand A plays the West Indies in a threeday game later this month.
The selectors have left a slot open in the test squad for one of the New Zealand A players to push their way in.
But Broom’s way looks blocked with Canterbury’s Henry
Nicholls seemingly ensconced at No 5.
Neesham, who has played 12 tests, 41 oneday internationals and 15 twenty20 internationals, is even further back in the field. He needs some big performances for Otago to capture the selectors’ attention.
He is batting at No 5 in the order and ahead of Otago player of the year Anaru Kitchen, who scored four firstclass centuries last summer.
But while Neesham has been given a platform to shine, he is yet to take centre stage.
He has had a series of starts without going on and came unstuck on 28 during Otago’s home Plunket Shield match against Central Districts yesterday.
He holed out on 28 trying to pull a ball to the ropes off Blair Tickner.
In seven innings, he has scored 151 runs at an average of 25.16. It is not the type of production which attracts much attention but he has shown some promising signs with ball.
He has picked up five wickets at an average of 19 and that will get noticed if his form with the ball continues.