New Zealand has unveiled their A squad featuring 11 international stars for the upcoming series against India A. The set includes three four-day matches, with the opening match kicking off in Lincoln this Saturday, running alongside the concurrent New Zealand vs India white-ball series.
This squad, comprising 19 players, will be strategically rotated throughout the series. For each four-day match, 13 players will be available, while the remaining members will participate in the Ford Trophy, a 50-over competition commencing on 28 October.
Rhys Mariu has been appointed captain for the first two encounters, although his status for the third is currently undecided, even though he will be available, according to New Zealand Cricket. Nick Kelly, recently awarded an NZC central contract, is set to make his appearance in the third game. The squad also includes notable names such as Adi Ashok, Kristian Clarke, Dean Foxcroft, Matt Fisher, Mitchell Hay, Jayden Lennox, Ben Lister, Henry Nicholls, and Tim Robinson.
In addition to Mariu, players like Foxcroft, Matt Boyle, Curtis Heaphy, Simon Keene, Fraser Sheat, and Jarrod McKay will be involved in all three matches.
NZC’s Head of High-Performance Development, Pete Sanford, expressed enthusiasm about the series, highlighting it as a chance for players to face off against top-tier talent like KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel, Akash Deep, Devdutt Padikkal, and potentially Rishabh Pant, pending his fitness. “They [India] have announced a very strong line up, which poses a great opportunity for growth as players to test their strengths against international class,” Sanford noted. “There’s a huge buzz around having India on our shores, and I know the squad are raring to get their domestic summer underway.”
The series also sees the entry of Cam Paul, an exciting 21-year-old fast bowler, making his debut in the New Zealand A outfit during the third match after recovering from an injury. Paul, who boasts an impressive bowling average just under 22 with two five-wicket hauls in first-class cricket, expressed his excitement, “You always want to test yourself against the best and potentially playing against some of those guys is a huge opportunity. I was gutted to just miss out on the last tour, so I’m fizzed to be part of the squad and take that next step up.”
New Zealand has given a detailed breakdown of the squads lined up for each match, adapting their best combinations to counter India’s strong challenge:
– 1st Match Squad: Rhys Mariu (capt), Matt Boyle, Max Chu, Kristian Clarke, Dean Foxcroft, Zak Gibson, Mitchell Hay (wk), Curtis Heaphy, Simon Keene, Jayden Lennox, Jarrod McKay, Tim Robinson, Fraser Sheat.
– 2nd Match Squad: Rhys Mariu (capt), Matt Boyle, Kristian Clarke, Matt Fisher, Dean Foxcroft, Zak Gibson, Mitchell Hay (wk), Curtis Heaphy, Simon Keene, Jayden Lennox, Jarrod McKay, Tim Robinson, Fraser Sheat.
– 3rd Match Squad: Adi Ashok, Matt Boyle, Max Chu (wk), Dean Foxcroft, Curtis Heaphy, Simon Keene, Nick Kelly, Ben Lister, Rhys Mariu, Jarrod McKay, Cam Paul, Henry Nicholls, Fraser Sheat.
