Guptill retains T20 spot, subject to fitness test
CRICKET
EXPERIENCED Black Caps opener Martin Guptill has retained his place in the twenty20 side, despite some poor form and a dodgy hamstring.
But the 34yearold righthander is on notice because prolific Wellington opener Finn Allen is hovering and has been named as cover for the 13man squad.
Guptill missed the final two games of the Super Smash season with a hamstring injury and will need to pass a fitness test before the fivegame T20 series against Australia which starts at a soldout Hagley Oval on February 22.
Guptill failed to make an
impact during the home T20 series against the West Indies and Pakistan.
He strung together scores of 5, 34, 6, 21 and 19 and has not scored a halfcentury in the format at the top level since he swatted 50 from 20 against England at Eden Park in November
2019.
Allen has been in tremendous form at the top of the Wellington T20 order and was the leading scorer in the Super Smash, with 512 runs at a strike rate of 193.93 and average of 56.88.
Selector Gavin Larsen said the 21yearold’s form had not gone unnoticed.
“Finn’s been in outstanding form and he’s certainly an exciting talent,” Larsen said.
“Martin’s our incumbent opener and our highest T20 International runscorer, so we’re backing him to do the job at the top of the order.
‘‘But he will need to prove his fitness and it’s good to know we have a ready replacement in Finn on standby.”
There is a familiar look to the rest of the squad.
Batsmen Devon Conway and Glenn Phillips return after a good showing against the West Indies and Pakistan.
Ross Taylor remains on the outer, which means another opportunity for Mark Chapman.
Seamers Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Kyle Jamieson were easy picks and will be joined by Wellington’s Hamish Bennett, who got the nod over Scott Kuggeleijn.
There was no room for Otago’s Jacob Duffy, who took four wickets on international debut.
His provincial teammate, Michael Rippon, was always a long shot. The wrist spinner had a strong T20 campaign but the national selectors went with the status quo of Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi.
Jimmy Neesham saw off the challenges from inform Canterbury allrounder Daryl Mitchell and the hardhitting Colin de Grandhomme.
Tim Seifert will take the gloves and open the batting, and Kane Williamson has shaken off an elbow complaint to take his spot at first drop.
Larsen said the series represented a significant step towards the ICC T20 World Cup in India later this year.
Canterbury’s Kate Ebrahim and Wellington’s Thamsyn Newton have won T20 recalls for the White Fern, included in the 13strong squad to play England in three internationals in March.
Ebrahim last played against Australia in 2018, while Newton’s last T20 international was against Pakistan in 2017.