Trio returns for Black Caps
The Black Caps have welcomed three players back for their oneday series against India, which begins in Napier next week.
Colin de Grandhomme, Tom Latham and Mitchell Santner have rejoined the squad after missing the clean sweep of Sri Lanka earlier this month, but there is no place for Tim Seifert, who took the gloves in Latham’s absence.
The 14-strong squad could yet grow, with allrounders Todd Astle and Jimmy Neesham told they need to prove their fitness in the Twenty20 Super Smash in order to be considered for the final two matches series.
Astle returned to action on Sunday with the Canterbury Kings after having minor knee surgery in November, while Neesham has been sidelined since straining his hamstring in the third ODI against Sri Lanka last Tuesday.
With Neesham not considered for the first three ODIs, de Grandhomme of the fivematch is likely to come straight back into the XI after being given the last series off to rest.
Doug Bracewell would be the other all-round option, retained despite not featuring in the ODIs against Sri Lanka, after a strong outing in the one-off Twenty20 that followed.
Latham was also given a break against Sri Lanka, and will come straight back into the XI, as no other wicketkeeper named.
Santner’s return to the ODI squad follows his appearance in last week’s Twenty20 against Sri Lanka, his first international match since last March, when he had knee surgery that kept him out of the international game for the rest of the year.
Black Caps coach Gary Stead said Neesham and Astle would join the squad for games four and five, all going well.
‘‘We were impressed by Jimmy against Sri Lanka, and are keen to see more of Todd – who has a different skillset and performed well for us last year.
‘‘It’s just important that, after their respective injuries, we can see them playing again and be confident of bringing them back has been at this level,’’ Stead said.
India will arrive in New Zealand this weekend following their three-match ODI series against Australia, which is tied 1-1 with a decider tomorrow.