Four Otago players selected for New Zealand

FOUR Otago players are set to face international opposition in Queenstown.

Jacob Duffy, Michael Rae, Michael Rippon and Nathan Smith will all turn out for New Zealand A later this month.

The team will play the West Indies in a threeday match beginning on November 20, followed by a fourday match on November 26.

Both will be played in Queenstown.

The Otago quartet were part of a 16man squad picked for the team’s first two matches.

A fourday game in December against the West Indies A follows, as do two against Pakistan A.

The first of those Pakistan A games will also be in Queenstown, beginning on December 10.

There is strength among the New Zealand A batting lineup, in particular, Wellington star Devon Conway, a South African who became eligible for New Zealand in August.

Conway has had an impressive firstclass career since his arrival in the country and has been touted as a future Black Cap.

Black Caps middle order batsman Henry Nicholls has also been included in the squad, having not played a game in eight months.

Will Young, another with test cricket in his sights, is also among those included.

Canterbury’s Cole McConchie will lead the side, while Dane Cleaver will take the gloves.

Black Caps coach Gary Stead said it was going to be a busy season for New Zealand’s elite cricketers.

‘‘It’s been a year like no other and we’re very fortunate to be preparing for such an actionpacked summer,’’ Stead said.

‘‘The complexities of the international schedule, along with the size of the touring squads and the length of time they will spend in the country has enabled us to build a very strong A programme.

‘‘The flip side of this is that pressure will be put on our player pool this season and we need to be smart with how we use our resources.

‘‘We’ll likely add and subtract from this squad as we go along.’’

He said the Otago quartet had been rewarded for their strong performances in the Plunket Shield.

New Zealand A will assemble in Queenstown on Wednesday, where Bob Carter and Paul Wiseman will lead the coaching staff.

The Black Caps open their international home summer against the West Indies at Eden Park in Auckland on November 27.