Matt Henry completes a comeback from a rib injury, while young Ben Sears too finds a place in New Zealand’s 15-member squad for the Chappell-Hadlee ODI series in Australia next month.
Henry, one of New Zealand’s premier quicks in recent years, having bagged 110 wickets from 60 ODIs till date, was a part of the squad in Ireland earlier this season. The 31-year-old missed out on the recent tour of the West Indies and replaced leg-spinner Ish Sodhi from that group.
Meanwhile, Sears, who has bagged six wickets from as many T20Is since his international debut in September last year, is yet to play an ODI. The 24-year-old completes a full-pronged fast-bowling group comprising Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson, Henry to go with the all-rounder Jimmy Neesham.
Having withdrawn from his central contract earlier this month, Boult held on to his place. Right-arm quicks Kyle Jamieson and Adam Milne missed out with back and Achilles tendon injuries, respectively.
“The inclusion of Ben Sears is a nod to the future, and we also think his pace and bounce could be a good option in Australian conditions,”
head coach Gary Stead said.
“It’s great to welcome back Matt as well. He’s been one of our front line one-day bowlers for the past few years and his ICC ODI bowling ranking of six is testament to that.
“The fact we’re having to leave out players of the calibre of Ish, Henry, and Will shows the increased depth we currently have at our disposal. Glenn’s (Phillips) a versatile player who can cover most places in the batting order for us – as well as providing a bowling option if needed.”
Since the completion of the 2019 World Cup, the Kiwis, the top-ranked team in the ICC ODI Rankings currently, have whitewashed India, Bangladesh and Netherlands at home and Ireland (away) in completed three-match ODI series, besides their 1-0 and 2-1 win in Scotland the Caribbean recently.
Other than their five-wicket defeat to the Windies in the first ODI earlier this month, their only other loss in the period came against Australia in the first of three ODIs in March 2020, before the remaining two games had been suspended with the covid-19 outbreak.
Australia hold a 6-4 edge over New Zealand in the Chappell-Hadlee ODI series played till date. The Blackcaps haven’t won an away ODI against Australia since February 2009.
The series was originally scheduled to be played in January this year, but was postponed due to quarantine restrictions. Each of the three games will be played at the Cazaly’s Stadium, Cairns on September 6, 8 and 11 respectively. The venue has hosted just two Tests and as many ODIs till date, with each of the four games dating back to 2003-04.
New Zealand ODI squad
Kane Williamson (capt), Finn Allen, Trent Boult, Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham (wk), Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Ben Sears, Tim Southee
