On Wednesday, New Zealand announced a spin-heavy team, captained by Mitchell Santner, to play in the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka next month.
The spin-friendly Chepauk Stadium in Chennai, home of former Chennai Super Kings players Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, and Santner, will host three of New Zealand’s four pool matches.
Ish Sodhi, New Zealand’s second-highest wicket-taker in the format, and all-rounders Michael Bracewell, Glenn Phillips, and Ravindra are joining Santner in the spin bowling ranks.
In his maiden World Cup, Jacob Duffy, the second-ranked T20I bowler in the ICC, will lead a potent pace-bowling quartet picked by coach Rob Walter.
Lockie Ferguson, Adam Milne, and Matt Henry join Duffy, and Kyle Jamieson will go to India as pace-bowling cover. Jimmy Neesham is picked as an all-around seam bowler.
Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Tim Seifert, Conway, and Mitchell make up the batting unit. Seifert will be the wicketkeeper. The squad’s balance is crucial as usual.
“We’ve got plenty of power and skill in the batting, quality bowlers who can adapt to conditions, plus five all-rounders who all bring something slightly different,” Walter said of his squad.
“This is an experienced group and the players are no strangers to playing in the sub-continent, which will be valuable.”
The majority of New Zealand’s team is already en route to India, where the Black Caps will play five Twenty20 Internationals and three One-Day Internationals.
Before beginning pool play against Afghanistan, Canada, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates, they will play a World Cup warm-up match against the United States.
Walter predicted that his team will be ready for the competition.
“The group have had a healthy diet of T20 cricket leading into this World Cup, with three T20 International series to start the home summer, followed by the Super Smash and franchise opportunities. We’ve also got a hugely exciting tour of India, which will be a big challenge and provide ideal preparation for what’s to come.”
New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (Capt.), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Adam Milne, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi
