Dumped Guptill not giving up
Crystal-ball gazing towards next year’s one-day international World Cup was a factor in Martin Guptill’s dumping from the Black Caps.
The veteran opener was axed from New Zealand’s 15-player squad to face India in three T20s and three ODIs, starting with the opening T20 in Wellington on Friday.
Guptill’s chances of appearing at a fourth ODI World Cup appear bleak with hard-hitting 23-year-old Finn Allen again selected at the top of the order, alongside Devon Conway.
Black Caps coach Gary Stead stressed at yesterday’s media opportunity in Christchurch that Guptill still had aspirations to play for his country and fight his way back. The selection door wasn’t closed for the 36-year-old, but Allen has clearly overtaken him in the pecking order and the man the Black Caps want opening in India at next year’s ODI World
Cup, which starts in October.
‘‘From our perspective it is that ability to keep looking forward and seeing, crystal ball gazing a little bit into what we think it might look like in a year’s time [at the World Cup],’’ Stead said of Guptill’s demotion.
‘‘On this occasion we’ve gone with Finn and are giving him that opportunity to bat at the top of the order.’’
Guptill won’t be the only experienced Black Cap not featuring against India with Trent Boult, who was released from his national contract in August, also not selected.
The writing has been on the wall for Guptill in T20Is after not playing a match at the T20 World Cup in Australia. He only played in one match in the warmup T20 tri-series in Christchurch, batting at three against Bangladesh, when captain Kane Williamson was rested.
Guptill was naturally disappointed about his non-selection for the Indian series, Stead said. He had made it clear he was eager to carry on internationally and fight his way back into the selection mix.
‘‘He has that desire to, so only time will show how that plays out.’’
Boult, who will next month take up a Big Bash T20 contract with Australian side, the Melbourne Stars, played in all five matches at the T20 World Cup. He was available for the Indian matches, but the priority had been given to nationally contracted players as they start to cast their eye towards the 50-over global tournament.
Allrounder Jimmy Neesham had been picked, despite not having a central contract, but Stead said his situation was different to Boult’s. Neesham wasn’t originally offered a national contract and then started to negotiate overseas T20s gigs.
When Colin de Grandhomme announced his international retirement in August, Neesham was presented with a contract