Balance key for Black Caps
Balance. It’s a word you will hear fly out of Gary Stead’s mouth plenty of times between now and April 23.
The Black Caps coach was refusing to rule much in or out as he keeps an open mind towards his World Cup squad – that must be named by the April deadline – following the naming of a 14-man squad to take on India.
Stead’s men will tackle the rockstars of the cricketing world in five ODIs starting in Napier on Wednesday but even with names like Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni in town the looming World Cup, that begins in England in late May, is clearly the bigger picture.
The India series – and to a lesser degree the three ODIs against Bangladesh next month – will play a key role in who will make the 15-man squad but also the balance of what is required.
Speaking at Lincoln yesterday, Stead confirmed he and fellow selector Gavin Larsen are still mulling over the possibility of including three spinners and using Henry Nicholls as the backup keeper to Tom Latham.
Tim Seifert, who wore the gloves for a rested Latham against Sri Lanka, has missed selection for the ODIs against India.
Colin de Grandhomme, who was also rested against Sri Lanka, comes back in and despite his position being one of the most polarising for Blacks Caps supporters, Stead gave a strong indication he had not lost ground and remains a likely World Cup selection despite the sizzling form of his replacement Jimmy Neesham.
‘‘Colin’s been the incumbent in our team for a while so I don’t need to see anything different from Colin other than what he normally said.
The allrounders will be one of the most discussed topics up until and after the World Cup squad is named and Stead isn’t sure how many will be on the plane to England.
‘‘There’s probably four people who are genuine contenders for two or three spots, I’m not sure how many we’ll take at this stage.’’
Stead has been encouraged to see Corey Anderson back bowling, for the first time since October, for the Northern Knights on Sunday and again Wednesday night.
Anderson, who was an automatic selection during the World Cup in 2015, will seemingly need provides us,’’ Stead to shine significantly with bat and ball to earn a call up for the three ODIs against Bangladesh to be a serious contender for the World Cup.
Neesham, who suffered a minor hamstring strain in the final ODI against Sri Lanka, has not been named but is expected to be drafted in – as long as he can prove his fitness in the T20 Super Smash – for the final two ODIs against India. He has been named in Wellington’s squad to take on Auckland today.
Todd Astle, who returned to action for the Canterbury Kings on Sunday, after having minor knee surgery in November, is also likely to be added for the final two matches. He bowled two overs in Canterbury’s rainaffected
At a glance
loss to Northern Districts on Wednesday night.
Doug Bracewell, who was in the ODI squad against Sri Lanka but did not play until the T20 international, is likely to take the field against India.
‘‘There’s going to be opportunities given to different guys throughout the series because we still do have, as selectors, an eye towards the World Cup still and looking at the big picture. So there’s still some things we want to work out with that puzzle,’’ Stead said.
He said Mitchell Santner, who returns for his first ODI since playing against England last March, is unlikely to play in all five matches.
Versatility will be a key part of the World Cup squad and Stead confirmed Latham is still an option as an opener if the need arises.
‘‘He’s done it many times before, again this is about the balance of the squad and how we work it out,’’ Stead said.
Despite Nicholls being an option as the backup keeper, Seifert’s chances of a World Cup berth are far from a forlorn hope.
‘‘I guess what we learnt around Tim is we certainly have no question marks around his ability with the bat and to change a game quickly. We’ve given him some things that we want him to keep going away and working on with the gloves.’’
Black Caps’ squad for India ODI series: Kane Williamson (c), 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.
Fixtures [all 3pm]: Jan 23 in Napier; Jan 26 in Mount Maunganui; Jan 28 in Mount Maunganui; Jan 31 in Hamilton; Feb 2 in Wellington.