Home SportsCricket New Zealand Cricket Announce 13 Man Squad For 5 T20Is Against Australia

New Zealand Cricket Announce 13 Man Squad For 5 T20Is Against Australia

New Zealand Cricket Team

New Zealand Cricket announced their 13-man squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against Australia, starting on February 22.

Kane Williamson will continue to lead New Zealand in 5 T20Is against Australia starting February 22. Experienced opener Martin Guptill has also been named in the squad despite struggling with a hamstring injury.

New Zealand Cricketers Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson Photo: PHOTOSPORT
New Zealand Cricketers Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson Photo: PHOTOSPORT

New Zealand Cricketer Martin Guptill Will Need To Prove His Fitness So Finn Allen Named As Standby

The Blackcaps selectors have named 21-year-old Finn Allen on standby for the opening slot, as Martin Guptill is uncertain for fitness-related issues. Players like Doug Bracewell, Todd Astle, Scott Kuggeleijn, Jacob Duffy, and Blair Tickner haven’t been included although they were named in the 1st T20I squad against Pakistan.

Selector Gavin Larsen spoke about the decision surrounding Martin Guptill and said: “Martin’s our incumbent opener and our highest T20 International run-scorer, so we’re backing him to do the job at the top of the order. He will need to prove his fitness, and it’s good to know we have a ready replacement in Finn on standby.”

21-year-old Finn Allen starred with the bat in the recently concluded Super Smash League which is New Zealand’s domestic T20 competition. He amassed 512 runs averaging 56.88 at a strike rate of 194 and emerged as a top scorer while guiding the Wellington Birds to back-to-back titles. Martin Guptill, who totalled just 85 runs in his last five T20I innings, is struggling for form but has the selector’s backing.

Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, and Mark Chapman continue to remain in the T20I squad against Australia after impressive show against Pakistan, while veteran batsman, Ross Taylor is sidelined from the T20I team once again.

New Zealand Cricket Names Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee, And Trent Boult As Pacers While Tim Seifert Is Keeper

Experienced campaigners like Tim Southee and Trent Boult made the squad alongside tall pacer Kyle Jamieson, who has taken international cricket by storm. New Zealand has gone with the experienced spin pair of Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner. Tim Seifert will be the wicket-keeper. The 26-year-old starred in New Zealand’s last three-match T20I series against Pakistan, where he won the Man of the Series for scoring 176 runs. The Kiwis won that series 2-1.

Kyle Jamieson | AFP
Kyle Jamieson | Photo Credit: AFP

New Zealand Cricket has seemingly picked their best squad possible, but Australia will be missing a few of their stars. Steve Smith, David Warner, Mitchell Starc and Patrick Cummins have not travelled with the team. Aaron Finch will lead Australia where there will be several all-rounders like Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, Marcus Stoinis, and Daniel Sams while Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, and Tanveer Sangha will be the relatively new faces.

NEW ZEALAND T20 SQUAD TO FACE AUSTRALIA: Kane Williamson (c), Hamish Bennett, Trent Boult, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Martin Guptill, Kyle Jamieson, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Finn Allen (On Standby)

This article is auto-generated by Algorithm Source: sportzwiki.com

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