Australia announce squads for tours of South Africa [Cancelled] and New Zealand

[MenInG]

Australian men's squads for the Qantas T20I tour of New Zealand and Qantas Test tour of South Africa
The National Selection Panel (NSP) has today announced the Qantas Australian men’s Twenty20 International squad to tour New Zealand and the Qantas Australian men’s Test squad to tour South Africa.

Confirmation of the tour to South Africa remains subject to satisfactory biosecurity arrangements, with discussions between Cricket South Africa (CSA) and Cricket Australia (CA) ongoing.

Cricket Australia last September agreed in principle to the concurrent tours as part of its commitment to playing its role in international cricket’s recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

CA has since confirmed the Qantas Australian men’s T20I tour of New Zealand with New Zealand Cricket (NZC), while constructive discussions between CA and CSA regarding the safety of the Qantas Australian men’s Test tour of South Africa continue.

Accordingly, the NSP has named separate playing squads for the series in New Zealand and South Africa.

“These are unprecedented times. Cricket Australia is committed to playing our role in international cricket while acknowledging the challenges of the pandemic and ensuring the health and safety of our players, staff and community,” said Ben Oliver, Cricket Australia’s Executive General Manager, National Teams.

“The Australian men’s T20I tour of New Zealand and Australian men’s Test tour of South Africa are important to both host boards and we have been working constructively with their respective management teams on the planning for both tours.

“We do not envisage replicating concurrent Australian men’s tours in the future, but we appreciate the need to do so now to assist our friends around the world during this challenging period for international sport and given the additional time requirements of mandatory quarantine periods.

“I take my hat off to all of the players, officials, staff and their families for their outstanding commitment to deliver international cricket throughout this pandemic.”

QANTAS AUSTRALIAN MEN’S T20I TOUR OF NEW ZEALAND

The NSP has announced the following 18-player squad for the Qantas Australian men’s T20I tour of New Zealand:

Aaron Finch (c) (Victoria)
Matthew Wade (vc) (Tasmania)
Ashton Agar (Western Australia)
Jason Behrendorff (Western Australia)
Mitchell Marsh (Western Australia)
Glenn Maxwell (Victoria)
Ben McDermott (Tasmania)
Riley Meredith (Tasmania)
Josh Philippe (Western Australia)
Jhye Richardson (Western Australia)
Kane Richardson (South Australia)
Daniel Sams (New South Wales)
Tanveer Sangha (New South Wales)
D’Arcy Short (Western Australia)
Marcus Stoinis (Western Australia)
Ashton Turner (Western Australia)
Andrew Tye (Western Australia)
Adam Zampa (New South Wales)

The Australian men’s T20 squad will be captained by Aaron Finch and coached by Andrew McDonald.

CA has confirmed that the Australian men’s T20I squad to tour New Zealand will not change irrespective of the outcome of discussions between CSA and CA regarding the Australian men’s Test tour of South Africa.

National Selector Trevor Hohns said the five-game series against the Black Caps would provide an excellent opportunity for several break-out performers from this year’s KFC Big Bash League to showcase their talents on the international stage, and to prepare for the ICC men’s T20 World Cup, to be played in India later this year.

“In a World Cup year, it’s exciting to select a squad that combines some of the biggest names in international T20 cricket with the best emerging players in the country,” Hohns said. “We like the balance of this squad for what should be a thrilling series against the Black Caps.

“The batting line-up will be strengthened by the inclusion of Matt Wade, who joins fellow experienced internationals such as Aaron Finch, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, D’Arcy Short and Ashton Turner.

"They will be complemented by some wonderful young talent in the form of Josh Philippe and Ben McDermott, both of whom have been in strong form this BBL campaign.

“We are fortunate to have some excellent all-rounders to choose from which is reflected in the selections of Mitch Marsh, Daniel Sams and Ashton Agar along with the likes of Maxwell and Stoinis.

“Adam Zampa has developed into one of the best spinners in international white ball cricket and we have been most impressed by Tanveer Sangha, who has been brilliant throughout the pathways and with the Sydney Thunder this season.

“We are similarly buoyant about our fast bowling stocks. Jhye Richardson, Riley Meredith and Jason Behrendorff have all impressed during the BBL and Kane Richardson and Andrew Tye are proven performers on the international stage.”

QANTAS AUSTRALIAN MEN’S TEST TOUR OF SOUTH AFRICA

The NSP has announced the following 19-player squad for the proposed Qantas Australian men’s Test tour of South Africa:

Tim Paine (c) (Tasmania)
Pat Cummins (vc) (New South Wales)
Sean Abbott (New South Wales)
Alex Carey (South Australia)
Cameron Green (Western Australia)
Marcus Harris (Victoria)
Josh Hazlewood (New South Wales)
Travis Head (South Australia)
Moises Henriques (New South Wales)
Marnus Labuschagne (Queensland)
Nathan Lyon (New South Wales)
Michael Neser (Queensland)
James Pattinson (Victoria)
Will Pucovski (Victoria)
Steve Smith (New South Wales)
Mitchell Starc (New South Wales)
Mark Steketee (Queensland)
Mitchell Swepson (Queensland)
David Warner (New South Wales)

The Australian men’s Test squad would be captained by Tim Paine and coached by Justin Langer.

CA has previously stated its intention to complete the three-Test tour of South Africa, which forms part of the Future Tours Program and the World Test Championship. The tour is subject to final sign-off between the CSA and CA boards.

Hohns said he was confident the Australian men’s team would rebound strongly from the thrilling, though ultimately unsuccessful, Border-Gavaskar series should the Test tour of South Africa be confirmed.

“When presented with the challenging task of selecting two concurrent Australian men’s squads for overseas tours, we picked our first-choice Test squad given the importance of the proposed series against South Africa,” Hohns said.

“The squad is quite similar to that selected for the final two Tests of the recently-completed Border-Gavaskar series, with the exception of Matt Wade, who will join the Australian men’s T20I squad in New Zealand, and the addition of Alex Carey, who has been in strong form with both bat and gloves.

“David Warner, Will Pucovski and Marcus Harris all opened at different stages against India and should be well-suited to the conditions in South Africa. Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith were in good form during the Australian summer and Travis Head has an opportunity to reclaim the No. 5 spot.

“We’ve been very impressed with Cameron Green’s first foray into Test cricket as an all-rounder batting at No. 6 and we have great depth with the in-form Moises Henriques also in the squad.

"Tim Paine was excellent at No.7 against India and as a batsman, wicketkeeper and captain still has much to offer in the Test arena.

“Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Swepson offer wonderful spin bowling options for South African conditions, Similarly, we like the skill, execution and variation offered by our pace corps of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Sean Abbott and Mark Steketee.

“It is testament to the depth of Australian cricket that the NSP has been able to select two Australian men’s international squads of such quality.”

Oliver said he looked forward to Paine once again leading Australia in the Test arena.

“Tim Paine has been an outstanding captain since taking over the Australian men’s Test team in incredibly difficult circumstances,” Oliver said.

“Tim has the support of the team, the coach and everyone else at Cricket Australia and the result of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series has done nothing to diminish that.

“Tim is in career-best form with the bat and, while the series against India was not his best with the gloves by his own admission, he remains in the top echelon of wicketkeepers globally.

“And as a leader, he has been brilliant. To captain a squad through the many challenges presented by the pandemic - not least the unique pressures of hub life - is no easy task and Tim did that with strength, humility and good humour.

“After a series that attracted so much global interest, it was inevitable there’d be scrutiny. But some of the commentary surrounding Tim and his position as Test captain has been wide of the mark.

“We’re fortunate to have such outstanding Australian team captains in Tim, Aaron and Meg.”

 

[BreadPakoda]

More or less the same test side. Would be interesting to see if the main bowlers remain free from injuries.

 

[Mobashir]

Not many surprises, especially in the starting XI for the test squad.

But still can't understand why don't you bring Jyhe Richardson with the test team.

Swepson should be playing T20's ahead of the T20 world cup when you know he isn't going to play a test in SA.
Abbott, the lucky man, should be sitting at home. I am not sure he is even good enough for first class cricket in Australia.

Happy for Philippe given a chance in T20's. Would have thought Lynn might be selected as well.

 

[wrongun]

Not many surprises, especially in the starting XI for the test squad.

But still can't understand why don't you bring Jyhe Richardson with the test team.

Swepson should be playing T20's ahead of the T20 world cup when you know he isn't going to play a test in SA.
Abbott, the lucky man, should be sitting at home. I am not sure he is even good enough for first class cricket in Australia.

Happy for Philippe given a chance in T20's. Would have thought Lynn might be selected as well.

Richardson has had a shoulder operation prior to this season and hasn't actually even played a FC game since 2019. Only T20 stuff. So he's not being considered for Tests since he hasn't played long formats for 18 months. Once he plays a couple of Shield games at the end of this season he'll be in line for future Test squads.

Remember also that only touring squad members can do the net bowling with COVID, no local bowlers doing the grunt work. So if he was picked he'd be bowling a heavy net workload no matter what & it's just not the best thing for him right now.

The Test XI issue was batting mainly. So Pucjovski is one improvement to that & I expect Head to get first chance at #5. That's changes to 1/3 of the batsmen so that's plenty. No need to sack everyone all at once.

Hazlewood, Cummins are clearly world class bowlers. Lyon is our best spinner by a mile- so even if he didn't get the job done he's still our best bet & if Paine didn't drop his catches & miss 2 stumpings then Lyon wouldn't even be mentioned.

Pattinson might get a game ahead of Starc- at least after the first Test or two.

 

[Last Monetarist]

If Pattinson is fit, he should definitely be playing the first test. It'll depend on how he pulls through the sheffield shield game before the team departs for the tour.

Not surprised to see Carey in the test team, it's probably the first official sign that Paine's position is under threat for the Ashes.

 

[wrongun]

If Pattinson is fit, he should definitely be playing the first test. It'll depend on how he pulls through the sheffield shield game before the team departs for the tour.

Not surprised to see Carey in the test team, it's probably the first official sign that Paine's position is under threat for the Ashes.

No sign at all. Remember with quarantine, replacement players cannot easily be sent so every team is travelling with a proper backup keeper these days.

 

[Last Monetarist]

No sign at all. Remember with quarantine, replacement players cannot easily be sent so every team is travelling with a proper backup keeper these days.

I disagree. If they didn't think that Carey is going to be playing test cricket before long, he'd be part of the white ball squad in New Zealand with the World T20 coming up.

Paine is definitely under pressure, particularly because his wicketkeeping has been mediocre recently.

 

[wrongun]

I disagree. If they didn't think that Carey is going to be playing test cricket before long, he'd be part of the white ball squad in New Zealand with the World T20 coming up.

Paine is definitely under pressure, particularly because his wicketkeeping has been mediocre recently.

So the picking the 2nd best keeper as the backup to your current keeper is supposed to be unusual?

 

[Last Monetarist]

So the picking the 2nd best keeper as the backup to your current keeper is supposed to be unusual?

It is if there's a white ball series being played concurrently, there's a World T20 coming up, and your 2nd best keeper has been one of the top scorers in your domestic T20 tournament.

It is an unusual situation and a tricky balancing act for the selectors.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Should have sent Starc to NZ and Behrendorff to the test squad.
Should have selected Hilton Cartwright ahead of Sams in t20 squad.

Sean Abott is very mediocre.

Daniel Worrall, Boland, Stanlake or Wes Agar should have been selected for t20is.

 

[MenInG]

Cricket Australia has announced a 19-man squad for a mooted three-Test tour of South Africa, which could prove pivotal in the race to the ICC World Test Championship Final.

Coming off the back of a 2-1 Test series loss to India, Australia have dropped Matthew Wade from their squad after the veteran made just 123 runs at an average of 21.62 across the four Tests.

Australia slipped to third place on the World Test Championship standings after their loss to India in the final Test at Brisbane.

To secure a place in the World Test Championship final, Australia will have to win at least two Tests of the proposed three-match series against South Africa and avoid any losses. On the other hand, a home series win by South Africa will end Australia’s chances of making the final. Any other results require a favourable combination of series results not featuring Australia.

Wade’s axing leaves Travis Head as the front runner to bat at No.5 but he faces competition from Moises Henriques, Will Pucovski and reserve keeper Alex Carey.

Carey is one of five uncapped players in the squad, alongside fast bowlers Sean Abbott, Michael Neser and Mark Steketee, and leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson.

Pucovski is back in contention for selection after injuring his shoulder on Test debut earlier this month. Pucovski scored a half-century opening the batting in his first match for Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground at the start of the year.

He provides Australia’s selectors an option as both an opener and a middle-order batter. Incumbent openers David Warner and Marcus Harris have both been named in the squad after being paired together at the Gabba following Pucovski’s injury.

The three-Test series against South Africa is still pending an official sign off from both CA and Cricket South Africa boards.

“David Warner, Will Pucovski and Marcus Harris all opened at different stages against India and should be well-suited to the conditions in South Africa,” Cricket Australia chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said. “Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith were in good form during the Australian summer and Travis Head has an opportunity to reclaim the No. 5 spot.

“We’ve been very impressed with Cameron Green’s first foray into Test cricket as an all-rounder batting at No. 6 and we have great depth with the in-form Moises Henriques also in the squad.

"Tim Paine was excellent at No.7 against India and as a batsman, wicket-keeper and captain still has much to offer in the Test arena.

“Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Swepson offer wonderful spin bowling options for South African conditions, Similarly, we like the skill, execution and variation offered by our pace corps of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Sean Abbott and Mark Steketee.”

AUSTRALIA TEST SQUAD

Tim Paine (c), Pat Cummins (vc), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Will Pucovski, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner

 

[MenInG]

Australia’s men’s squad for the February-March Twenty20 International series against New Zealand has been announced.

The 18-man squad will be captained by Aaron Finch, with Andrew McDonald stepping up as team coach in the absence of Justin Langer, who will be in South Africa for a three-Test series pencilled in for the same time.

Finch will be deputised by Matthew Wade, who has been left out of the 19-man Test squad to play South Africa. Despite the absence of cross format stars Steve Smith and David Warner, the batting order will not be short of fire power, with Finch, Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis all included.

Australia will also have the services of two of the world’s top 10 T20I bowlers, with spinners Adam Zampa (fourth) and Ashton Agar (sixth) included alongside uncapped 19-year-old leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha.

Fast bowler Jhye Richardson will be hoping to play his first match for Australia in any format since March last year, and Jason Behrendorff his first since the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2019.

The series shapes as key preparation for Australia ahead of this year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India.

“In a World Cup year, it’s exciting to select a squad that combines some of the biggest names in international T20 cricket with the best emerging players in the country,” Cricket Australia chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said. “We like the balance of this squad for what should be a thrilling series against the Black Caps.

“The batting line-up will be strengthened by the inclusion of Matt Wade, who joins fellow experienced internationals such as Aaron Finch, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, D’Arcy Short and Ashton Turner.

"They will be complemented by some wonderful young talent in the form of Josh Philippe and Ben McDermott, both of whom have been in strong form this BBL campaign.

“We are fortunate to have some excellent all-rounders to choose from which is reflected in the selections of Mitch Marsh, Daniel Sams and Ashton Agar along with the likes of Maxwell and Stoinis.

“Adam Zampa has developed into one of the best spinners in international white ball cricket and we have been most impressed by Tanveer Sangha, who has been brilliant throughout the pathways and with the Sydney Thunder this season.

“We are similarly buoyant about our fast bowling stocks. Jhye Richardson, Riley Meredith and Jason Behrendorff have all impressed during the BBL and Kane Richardson and Andrew Tye are proven performers on the international stage.”

Australia currently sit second on the ICC T20I rankings, one spot behind England and four ahead of New Zealand.

AUSTRALIA T20I SQUAD

Aaron Finch (c), Matthew Wade (vc), Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Josh Philippe, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Daniel Sams, Tanveer Sangha, D’Arcy Short, Marcus Stoinis, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa

T20I SERIES AGAINST NEW ZEALAND

Feb 22, 7pm at Hagley Oval, Christchurch

Feb 25, 2pm at University Oval, Dunedin

Mar 3, 7pm at Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington

Mar 5, 7pm at Eden Park, Auckland

Mar 7 2pm at Bay Oval, Mount Mauganui

All time local

 

[MenInG]

Australia’s three-test cricket tour of South Africa is under a significant Covid-19 cloud, with its potential cancellation giving the Black Caps a leg-up into the inaugural World Test Championship final.

Sydney’s Daily Telegraph reports the tour is in “serious trouble”, with a decision set to be made in the coming days.

Respected cricket writer Ben Horne wrote in the Telegraph on Tuesday: “The safety obstacles are significant and there is now great uncertainty over the expedition going ahead.

“Cricket Australia won’t compromise on the safety of its players and staff, and as it stands there are concerns over whether their wellbeing on the road can be guaranteed.”

If the tour is cancelled due to a highly contagious strain of the Covid-19 virus sweeping South Africa, it would mean Australia can’t finish ahead of New Zealand on the WTC ladder.

After their loss to India in Brisbane, Australia sits third on 69.2 per cent of total points contested, with the Black Caps second on 70 per cent and India leading on 71.7.

New Zealand’s WTC schedule is over and they can’t slip below 70 per cent, but India can if they suffer defeats to England in the four-test series starting this weekend.

If Australia were to finish stranded on 69.2 per cent with a cancelled South Africa tour, they would be cheering for England to beat India which would mean a trans-Tasman final in the UK from June 18-22.

New Zealand are scheduled to play two tests in England before then, at Lord’s and Edgbaston in the first fortnight of June.

The Telegraph piece said Cricket Australia had not given up on the tour, which is proposed to take place between Centurion and Johannesburg with the tests on March 3, March 12 and March 21.

But it continued: “They [CA] must be convinced by the biosecurity measures being put forward by Cricket South Africa, and there also logistical complications associated with getting the team back into Australia after the series is done.

“Touring goes against Government travel and safety advice and there are concerns about what would happen if, in a worst-case scenario, an Australian player did get sick.

“Would that individual be able to get back into Australia? Would the entire team have to wait back until results are negative?”

Australian selectors named two squads last week, one for South Africa and a Twenty20 squad to play the Black Caps in five matches starting in Christchurch on February 22.

Captain Aaron Finch and his second-string side are scheduled to fly into New Zealand on Sunday to begin their 14 days of managed isolation.

A South Africa cancellation could also mean some of the test stars boost Australia's ranks in the T20 series in New Zealand.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/crick...ential-boost-to--black-caps-wtc-final-chances

 

[Hitman]

Australian cricket coach under no illusion about confident Black Caps

Australian Twenty20 coach Andrew McDonald has lavished praise on the Black Caps – describing it as a golden era for the side.

New Zealand square off against their trans-Tasman rivals in a much anticipated five-match series, beginning at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval on February 22.

The Black Caps are riding high after confirming their spot in the inaugural ICC test championship final last week and being ranked No 1 in the form for the first time.

T20 has been New Zealand's most inconsistent format in recent years. With the T20 World Cup looming in India in October-November, a series win over Australia would reaffirm they were tracking in the right direction.

Assistant coach McDonald is taking charge of the side in New Zealand without head coach Justin Langer. He was under no illusion about the task in front of them.

“I think it’s probably hands down the best period of cricket in New Zealand history and some of these players we're currently seeing for New Zealand will go down as the greats and that makes them a very tough team to play against,” McDonald said on a Wednesday Zoom call.

New Zealand unveil their T20 squad on Sunday and will be determined to carry on the pleasing results they delivered in the T20 series wins over the West Indies and Pakistan before Christmas.

The Black Caps are sixth in the ICC’s T20 rankings with Australia sitting second, behind only England.

Always difficult in their home conditions, McDonald said it was a well-balanced New Zealand T20 side, who were oozing confidence.

“They've unearthed some new talent in [Glenn] Phillips, [Tim] Seifert, and Devon Conway as well. They've added to the depth and they're players we probably haven’t seen a lot of as well, so they're going to create a bit of a planning issue.

“I always think New Zealand, one of their strengths is their ability to work through with the ball. They’ve got some quality bowlers that execute well under pressure.

“They’re a calm team as well, well led by Kane [Williamson].”

McDonald spoke highly of the New Zealand bowling attack in both red and white ball cricket and said they had set the tone for their strong performances.

Adding Kyle Jamieson, who has made a stellar start to his test and ODI career, to the mix only strengthened the bowling unit.

“That [test] bowling attack will probably go down as New Zealand’s best bowling attack. In white ball cricket, they've got some really good complementing skillsets. They’re a reasonably settled side...

“They’re a really smart cricket team, and we’ll have our work cut out here. There’s no doubt they're a tough team to beat on their turf.”

Providing they all passed their Covid-19 tests, Australia would only get out of managed isolation on the morning of the first T20 on February 22, which begins at 7pm.

Australia can begin training at Lincoln on day five on Friday, if they clear their first Covid-19 tests on Thursday.

It is a challenging build-up, but McDonald wasn't making any excuses. Most of the squad had experienced a similar situation returning from the Indian Premier League and quarantining in Australia before immediately facing India in an ODI series in November.

Australia showed no signs of rust, winning the opening two matches and posting more than 350 in both innings.

“I think it was 11 or 12 players leading into an Indian series, where we got out of quarantine and played the next day.

“A lot of these players have done this before. The restrictions that are put on us are there, but we’ve also got the flexibility to train within those restrictions, so we should be prepared as any series we’ve played in.”

The Australian squad had come off a heavy T20 diet, playing in their domestic Big Bash competition since December. The final was contested on Saturday with the Sydney Sixers going back-to-back, beating the Perth Scorchers.

Australia T20 squad in New Zealand: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Josh Philippe, Kane Richardson, Daniel Sams, Tanveer Sangha, D'Arcy Short, Marcus Stoinis, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, Matthew Wade, Adam Zampa.

Link: https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/crick...-under-no-illusion-about-confident-black-caps

 

[Hitman]

Martin Guptill gets nod ahead of Finn Allen in Black Caps squad to face Australia

Wellington Firebirds opener Finn Allen has been placed on stand-by for his international debut with out-of-form veteran Martin Guptill getting the nod for the upcoming Twenty20 series against Australia.

Despite Allen scoring 512 runs at a strike rate of 193 in the Firebirds' Super Smash title run, Black Caps selectors have gone with Guptill if he passes a fitness test.

The five-match series begins at Hagley Oval on February 22.

Guptill missed the final two games of the Super Smash season with a hamstring injury, but will assemble with the squad in Christchurch on Friday in order prove his fitness for the series.

The Auckland Aces and Black Caps veteran has lacked form this summer, scoring 46 in his three T20 innings against Pakistan before making three single-digit scores in his last four Super Smash innings.

In contrast, Allen scored six half centuries in the Super Smash with an average of 56.88. He may have to wait until the Bangladesh series in March for his next chance to make his debut.

Although Allen won't assemble with the side, Black Caps selector Gavin Larsen made it clear the 21-year-old's weight of runs in the Super Smash had not gone unnoticed.

"Finn's been in outstanding form and he's certainly an exciting talent," Larsen said.

"Martin's our incumbent opener and our highest T20 International run scorer so we're backing him to do the job at the top of the order, but he will need to prove his fitness and it's good to know we have a ready replacement in Finn on stand-by."

Colin Munro also misses out after the 33-year-old chose to play in the Australian Big Bash League for the Perth Scorchers this summer, instead of Auckland in the local Super Smash.

Batting at three for much of the Big Bash, the left-hander was consistent, making three consecutive half-centuries and four in five innings as the Scorchers overcame a horror start to rocket into title contention, before finishing runners-up to the Sydney Sixers.

Munro averages 31.3 at a whopping 156 strike rate for the Black Caps in the shortest form, but hasn't represented his country for over a year.

There's a familiar look to the Black Caps squad with batsmen Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips and Mark Chapman backed to continue in the middle order after strong starts to the international season.

Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Kyle Jamieson and Hamish Bennett make up the pace-bowling quartet, with Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi the spinners, while Jimmy Neesham has overcome his finger injury to be named as the all-rounder.

Black Caps T20 squad
Kane Williamson (c)
Hamish Bennett
Trent Boult
Mark Chapman
Devon Conway
*Martin Guptill (pending fitness test)
Kyle Jamieson
Jimmy Neesham
Glenn Phillips
Mitchell Santner
Tim Seifert (wk)
Ish Sodhi
Tim Southee

Link: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/cr...to-face-australia/YK3HCCRCZH3E5JWTR7RQDI4HJA/

 

[MenInG]

BLACKCAPS batsman Martin Guptill faces a fitness test ahead of the upcoming five-game KFC T20 Series against Australia, which starts at a sold-out Hagley Oval on Monday, February 22.

The Auckland Aces opener missed the final two games of the Dream11 Super Smash season with a hamstring injury, but will assemble with the squad in Christchurch on Friday in order prove his fitness for the series.

Waiting in the wings will be Wellington Firebirds breakout star Finn Allen, who has been bracketed in the 13-man squad as cover for Guptill, should he not be fit.

Although Allen won’t assemble with the side, BLACKCAPS selector Gavin Larsen made it clear the 21-year-old’s weight of runs in the Super Smash (512 at a whopping strike rate of 193) had not gone unnoticed.

“Finn’s been in outstanding form and he’s certainly an exciting talent,” Larsen said.

“Martin’s our incumbent opener and our highest T20 International run scorer so we’re backing him to do the job at the top of the order, but he will need to prove his fitness and it’s good to know we have a ready replacement in Finn on stand-by.”

There’s a familiar look to the rest of the BLACKCAPS squad with batsmen Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips and Mark Chapman backed to continue in the middle order after strong starts to the international season.

Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Kyle Jamieson and Hamish Bennett make up the pace-bowling quartet, with Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi the spinners, while Jimmy Neesham has overcome his finger injury to be named as the all-rounder.

BLACKCAPS T20 SQUAD
Kane Williamson (c)
Hamish Bennett
Trent Boult
Mark Chapman
Devon Conway
*Martin Guptill (pending fitness test)
Kyle Jamieson
Jimmy Neesham
Glenn Phillips
Mitchell Santner
Tim Seifert (wk)
Ish Sodhi
Tim Southee

*Finn Allen (on stand-by for Guptill)

Tim Seifert will take the gloves and open the batting, with Kane Williamson to lead the side and bat at number three.

Larsen said this series represented a significant step on the road to the ICC T20 World Cup in India in October/November.

“There’s no doubt this series is massive for everyone involved,” Larsen said.

“We appreciate the sacrifices the Australians have made to make this tour possible and with the February 22 opening match on the same day as the Christchurch Earthquake 10 year anniversary - it will be a significant occasion.

“Australia will provide a really stern test for our guys who I know will relish the chance to test themselves against the number two T20 side in the world.

“A five game series also allows us to really nail down our game-plans and the way we want to play as we look ahead to the World Cup later this year.

“We’ve got a great rivalry with Australia and, with the prospect of full houses up and down the country, I’m sure this series will be the biggest yet.”

KFC T20 Series, BLACKCAPS v Australia, Feb 22 – March 7
1st KFC T20: 7pm, February 22, Hagley Oval, Christchurch
2nd KFC T20: 2pm, February 25, University of Otago Oval, Dunedin
3rd KFC T20: 7pm, March 3, Sky Stadium, Wellington
4th KFC T20: 7pm, March 5, Eden Park, Auckland
5th KFC T20: 7pm, March 7, Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui

 

[MenInG]

New Zealand fast bowler Tim Southee has been reprimanded for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the third T20I against Australia in Wellington.

Southee was found to have breached Article 2.8 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “showing dissent at an Umpire’s decision during an International Match.”

In addition to this, one demerit point has been added to the disciplinary record of Southee, for whom it was the first offence in a 24-month period.

The incident occurred in the first over of the match on Wednesday, when Southee shouted at the umpire in a disrespectful manner after a leg before wicket review taken against Australia opener Aaron Finch was declared an umpire’s call and given not out.

Southee admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Jeff Crowe of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees and ratified by the ICC Cricket Operations department as per the COVID-19 interim playing regulations. There was no need for a formal hearing.

On-field umpires Chris Gaffaney and Wayne Knights, third umpire Shaun Haig and fourth official Chris Brown levelled the charges.

Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points