The following players have been selected to contest ICC World Twenty20 in the West Indies in April-May.
ICC World Twenty20 squad:
Daniel Vettori – Northern Knights
Shane Bond – Canterbury Wizards
Ian Butler – Otago Volts
Martin Guptill – Auckland Aces
Gareth Hopkins – Auckland Aces
Brendon McCullum – Otago Volts
Nathan McCullum – Otago Volts
Kyle Mills – Auckland Aces
Rob Nicol – Canterbury Wizards
Jacob Oram – Central Stags
Aaron Redmond – Otago Volts
Jesse Ryder – Wellington Firebirds
TimSouthee – Northern Knights
Scott Styris – Auckland Aces
Ross Taylor – Central Stags
The squad includes one new cap in Rob Nicol from Canterbury.
“We are excited about the side and believe that they will go well in the tournament,” said selectors’ spokesman, Mark Greatbatch. “We have a mix of players who are competitive on the world stage in the Twenty20 format. Obviously we will need to be consistent with our performances and build momentum through pool-play.
“We think we have some very dynamic batters, who can be lethal in this form of the game. Our bowlers are also very effective Twenty20 performers,” he said.
“All the players have a programme for the next 18 days prior to leaving for our training camp in Brisbane on the 18th April. The training programme requires the players to undergo rigourous fitness and skill sessions. A number of our players, Mills, Oram, Redmond and Butler are coming back from injury, so the training schedule will put all of our players through their paces to ensure that they are fully fit before we depart.
“Ian Butler and Aaron Redmond will also play several matches in the National Club Champoinship in Auckland during 6-11 April. Other squad members, Hopkins and Styris, will also play in these matches to give them some game time.
“Rob Nicol comes in to the side on the back of some very good domestic form, particularly in the shorter form of the game. Daryl Tuffey and Neil Broom were not considered because of injury.”
The ICC World Twenty20 runs from 27 April until 16 May. New Zealand will be based in Georgetown, Guyana during pool matches and play Ireland, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. The BLACKCAPS then travel to Barbados where they play either South Africa or Afghanistan then either Pakistan or Australia. The team then moves to Saint Lucia where they play either England or Ireland, before the competition moves to the semi-final stage on May 13.
