Canterbury's legspinning allrounder Todd Astle is in the BLACKCAPS' squad to take on Pakistan in the three-match ANZ Twenty20 Series beginning this Friday.
BLACKCAPS ANZ Twenty20 Squad v Pakistan
Kane Williamson (captain)
Corey Anderson
Todd Astle
Trent Boult
Grant Elliott
Martin Guptill
Matt Henry
Tom Latham (first game only)
Mitchell McClenaghan
Adam Milne
Colin Munro
Luke Ronchi
Mitchell Santner
Ross Taylor (will miss the first game)
Astle, who has yet to play an International Twenty20, has featured once for the BLACKCAPS in a Test match, against Sri Lanka in 2012; and earlier this season took an 11-wicket match haul against Sri Lanka for New Zealand A.
This is his first selection in the BLACKCAPS T20 squad and coach Mike Hesson said 29-year-old Astle deserved his chance.
“Todd had a solid campaign in this year's Georgie Pie Super Smash and has been a consistent performer for Canterbury over a number of seasons,” said Hesson.
“With the spin-friendly conditions in which we’re likely to play during the ICC World Twenty20 in India, it’s important we have all of our bases covered, and Todd is certainly an option for us.
“He’ll get an opportunity to play at some point against Pakistan, in what will be a tough series."
Todd Astle joins the BLACKCAPS coming off an unbeaten Ford Trophy run for Canterbury. Photosport
Tom Latham, who also provides wicketkeeper cover, comes into the squad for the opening match while Ross Taylor is rested. Taylor will join the squad in Hamilton, while legspinner Ish Sodhi has returned to the Ford Trophy competition with the SKYCITY Northern Knights playing their next match against the Devon Hotel Central Stags in Whangarei this Wednesday.
Offspinning allrounder Nathan McCullum was unavailable for selection due to a knee injury, and is targeting a return for the SBS Otago Volts in the Ford Trophy on 17 January.
