Brownlie poised to make ODI return
Northern Districts batsman set to replace Guptill for Napier showdown with Aussies
Dean Brownlie looks set to renew his one-day international cricket career for New Zealand in the second Chappell-Hadlee series match at Napier today, unless forecast rain intervenes.
In contrast, Australian wicketkeeper and stand-in captain Matthew Wade headed home because of his back injury.
Brownlie, sporting a beard to rival WG Grace, was the focus of applause and handshakes in a team circle at practice. He then worked on his slips catching alongside Ross Taylor.
The 32-year-old last played an ODI in December 2014 against Pakistan, but has loomed on the periphery of the side for some time.
Brownlie averages 25.37 at a strike rate of 74 from nine ODI innings, but that increases to 34.25 at 79 in the four innings he has opened.
He has excelled opening for Northern Districts in this season’s Ford Trophy, scoring 203 runs from five innings at an average of 50.75 and strike rate of 70. Brownlie replaces Martin Guptill, who rested his left hamstring twinge.
Guptill’s innings of 61 from 73 balls proved a key building block in New Zealand’s opening six-run win at Eden Park and his batting has been pivotal in recent Chappell-Hadlee contests, averaging 62 from his last seven innings against Australia with a strike rate of 101 and no score less than 31.
Opening with Brownlie and Tom Latham maintains the balance of the side.
Kane Williamson, Taylor and Neil Broom are expected to stay at Nos 3, 4 and 5, with Colin Munro, Jimmy Neesham and Mitchell Santner providing all-rounder cover at Nos 6, 7, and 8. Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson and Trent Boult should round out the New Zealand XI.
The only potential query with that ensemble came when Neesham and Matt Henry stayed at McLean Park to practise outfield catches yesterday, while Tom Blundell worked on his keeping. All others, including allrounder Colin de Grandhomme, went to the Nelson Park nets after a fiercely contested warm-up of footballvolleyball.
Of their opponents, Wade was listed to captain Australia, after the withdrawals of Steve Smith and David Warner.
He failed a pre-match fitness test in Auckland, having tweaked his back at training the day before.
The touring party was confident he would recover from back spasms for the second match, but he was restricted to walking laps at the venue while Peter Handscomb practised his glovework with assistant coach Brad Haddin.
“It hasn’t pulled up as quickly as I wanted and the travel hasn’t helped,” Wade said.
“I took one catch at training — we
It’s not a major injury but with the short turnaround . . . it’s been decided it’s best for me to go home and get some treatment. Matthew Wade
were doing nicks — and I dived in front of first slip and felt it grab.
“It’s not a major injury but with the short turnaround between matches and the upcoming four-and-a-halfhour journey by bus to Hamilton, it’s been decided it’s best for me to go home and get some treatment.”
Wade said Handscomb would be better prepared after a mixed display at Eden Park.
“It’ll probably be easier on him with some more prep time. He found out half an hour before the start the other day, so had to grab his gloves and run out there, which is not an easy thing to do.”
Team doctor John Orchard said: “It has been decided to send him home . . . with a view to him being fit for the tour of India and the preceding training camp in Dubai.”