Raval gets early crack at Bangladesh

Black Caps test opener Jeet Raval will get an early opportunity to measure up against the Bangladesh bowling attack.

Raval has been included in the New Zealand XI to play Bangladesh in a 50-over match in Christchurch on Sunday.

He is the only player in the squad with international experience.

‘‘Jeet’s not playing Super Smash cricket for Auckland so the chance to spend some time in the middle against Bangladesh was too good to miss,’’ selector Gavin Larsen said.

With the exception of Wellington batting all-rounder Rachin Ravindra, players participating in the domestic Twenty20 competition were not considered for selection.

‘‘We’ve identified Rachin as a player of interest for a significant period of time now. He did a very At a glance good job for the NZ A team in both the UAE and at home against India A and we believe another day of international cricket would be very advantageous for him.’’

In Ravindra, Finn Allen, Dale Phillips, Katene Clarke and Max Chu, the team features some of the younger players on New Zealand Cricket’s high-performance radar, as well as the Ford Trophy’s leading run-scorer – Wellington’s Andrew Fletcher.

The Black Caps will play three one day internationals and three tests against Bangladesh.

New Zealand XI squad: Jeet Raval (Auckland, captain), Andrew Fletcher (Wellington), Rachin Ravindra (Wellington), Finn Allen (Auckland), Dale Phillips (Auckland), Katene Clarke (ND), Sean Solia (Auckland), Max Chu (Otago, wk), Theo van Woerkom (Canterbury), Iain McPeake (Wellington), Andrew Hazeldine (Canterbury), Jamie Brown (Auckland).