NZ include four pacers in squad for Australia Tests
WELLINGTON: New Zealand has selected fast-bowling allrounders Jimmy Neesham and Corey Anderson along with four frontline quicks in its 15-man squad to play a three-Test series in Australia in November, including cricket’s first day-night test match.
Neesham displaces Neil Wagner in the only change to the squad that drew a two-Test series in England earlier this year. Head coach Mike Hesson said Neesham and Anderson’s ability to provide bowling support persuaded the selectors to include only four frontline pacemen — Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Doug Bracewell and Matt Henry — rather than five.
Hesson and selection manager Gavin Larsen have emphasised consistency as New Zealand tries to build on its unbeaten record over its last seven Test series.
“A lot of our recent success has been based on the value of our No. 6 batsman bowling some overs and we’re comfortable continuing in that vein,” Hesson said. “Rather than having an extra fast bowler not playing in Australia, we thought it more prudent for those in contention to remain in New Zealand and be playing domestic cricket.”
Australia-raised wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi, who performed strongly for New Zealand in its win over England at Leeds — its most recent Test — has been retained as the back-up to B.J. Watling.
“This is a tour in which we spend quite a lot of time on the west coast of Australia and, given what happened to B.J.’s knee in England, it seems wise to have options close at hand,” Hesson said.
New Zealand opens its tour with a one-day match against a Prime Minister’s XI at Canberra on Oct. 23, then plays three-day tour matches against a Cricket Australia XI at Canberra from Oct. 24 and Sydney from Oct. 29.
The first Test begins in Brisbane on Nov. 5, the second in Perth on Nov. 13 and the third — which will be the historic day-night match - at Adelaide from Nov. 27.
The last time the two countries met on Australian soil was in the limited-overs format in March, when the hosts won the World Cup final against New Zealand at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Squad: Brendon McCullum (captain), Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Mark Craig, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, James Neesham, Luke Ronchi, Hamish Rutherford, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, B.J. Watling, Kane Williamson.
Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2015
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