One-day vacancy opens up for Worker

George Worker will open the batting for New Zealand in the ODI series against the West Indies, with Martin Guptill ruled out due to his hamstring injury.

Worker will partner Colin Munro, who is coming off a strong showing on the recent tour of India.

The 28-year-old said he was excited to get a chance up top after four ODIs and two Twenty20s batting in the middle order.

‘‘I’ve been in the squad in the past,’’ he said. ‘‘But I have never been given that confirmation that I’m going to open the batting, so to have that, it’s pretty exciting.’’

The rest of the squad features some mixing and matching to manage summer workloads.

Captain Kane Williamson will play just the opening game, in Whangarei next Wednesday, before being rested from the second and third matches as well as the first of the three Twenty20s which follow.

Tim Southee will also feature in just the series opener, with Tom Latham to captain the side in the second and third ODIs. Neil Broom will replace Williamson for the

Christchurch matches, while Mitchell Santner will come in for Southee, with the spinning allrounder to miss the opening ODI to rest a niggling shoulder injury.

Selector Gavin Larsen said the rest and rotation would continue throughout the summer.