New Zealand names spin-friendly squad for ICC World Twenty20

New Zealand names spin-friendly squad for ICC

World 

Twenty20

Anton Devcich, Roneel Hira and Trent Boult included in the 15-member squad

The inclusion of spinner Hira, Devcich highlight the selectors focus on the spin-friendly conditions expected in the sub-continent.

New Zealand has named a spin-friendly squad for the ICC World Twenty20 in Bangladesh starting on 23 Marchwith its opener against England.

Three in the 15-strong squad – Anton Devcich, Roneel Hira and Trent Boult – are in addition to the New Zealandplayers used in limited overs matches this summer.

The inclusion of spinner Hira, Devcich with his spin bowling option, and Kane Williamson, who didn’t feature in the Twenty20 matches against the West Indies but is a good player of spin as well as a spin bowling option, highlight the selectors focus on the spin-friendly conditions expected in the sub-continent.

Squad

Brendon McCullum (c) - Otago Volts

Corey Anderson - Northern Knights

Trent Boult - Northern Knights

Anton Devcich - Northern Knights

Martin Guptill - Auckland Aces

Roneel Hira – Canterbury Wizards

Mitchell McClenaghan - Auckland Aces

Nathan McCullum - Otago Volts

Kyle Mills - Auckland Aces

Colin Munro - Auckland Aces

James Neesham - Otago Volts

Luke Ronchi - Wellington Firebirds

Tim Southee - Northern Knights

Ross Taylor - Central Stags

Kane Williamson - Northern Knights

New Zealand Cricket General Manager National Selection Bruce Edgar says spinners will play a major role in the tournament.

"As we saw when we toured Bangladesh in October, the pitches will be slow and likely to turn. Consequently we were looking for batsmen who can play spin well as well as some more spin bowling options.

“Anton gives us both top and middle order batting options as well as spin. He performed well on the tour to Bangladesh and the New Zealand A tour to India and Sri Lanka before that.

“And Ronnie is an experienced Twenty20 spin bowler. He’s an excellent fieldsman and he had a very good HRV Twenty20 with Canterbury.”

Edgar adds that Boult would have been used in some of the shorter format matches over the summer if he hadn’t been recovering from a quad strain.

Bowlers Adam Milne (abdominal) and Matt Henry (adductor) were not available for selection due to injury, while Jesse Ryder was not considered because of his recent off-field behaviour.

Head Coach Mike Hesson says after a strong summer at home including a 4-0 One Day International series win over world champions India, New Zealand will be a team that others are wary of.

“The goal for us is simply to keep to the same preparation that served us well over the summer and not get ahead of ourselves.”