Top guns return to reinforce Black Caps

The Black Caps are about to face the biggest challenge in their preparation for the Cricket World Cup, so there’s no better time to welcome back three of their key contributors.

Mitchell Santner, Tom Latham and Colin de Grandhomme are all set to make their returns against India as part of a 14-man squad named for the first three games of the five-match series against the world’s No 2-ranked ODI side.

Latham and de Grandhomme slot straight back in after being rested for the Sri Lankan short-form sweep, while Santner will end a 10-month stint without ODI cricket, having successfully made his international return from knee surgery in New Zealand’s Twenty20 win over Sri Lanka last Friday.

Tim Seifert makes way for Latham as the specialist wicketkeeper, while de Grandhomme returns in place of the man who shone in his absence, Jimmy Neesham.

He suffered a hamstring strain in the third ODI against Sri Lanka and will miss at least the first three ODIs against India. He will have to prove his fitness in the domestic Twenty20 Super Smash.

Doug Bracewell stays in the squad despite not getting a run in the Sri Lankan ODI series, while Todd Astle will also be considered for the final two games of the series if he, too, can prove his fitness in the Super Smash.

Black Caps coach Gary Stead said his squad is a result of juggling multiple objectives — preparing for the upcoming World Cup, and aiming for a series win against a high-quality Indian outfit.

He hoped Neesham and Astle could join the squad for games four and five.

“We were impressed by Jimmy against Sri Lanka, and are keen to see more of Todd — who performed well for us last year.”

The ODI series starts at McLean Park in Napier next Wednesday.