New Zealand announce squad for India Test series

Sport360 staff 11:38 06/09/2016
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  • Jimmy Neesham returns to the Test team

    All-rounder Jimmy Neesham makes a return to the New Zealand Test team after almost ten months out through injury in the country’s Test squad for its tour of India that starts this month. Last year, a back problem forced him to leave the tour of Australia while the series was still in progress, while Neesham was left out of the squad that toured Zimbabwe and South Africa last month.

    The 25-year-old Auckland-born cricketer has played nine Tests for the Blackcaps so far with 612 runs at an average of 38.25, impressive considering his role in the team. With the ball, he has 12 wickets every 39.33 runs.

    Speaking about Neesham’s inclusion, Kiwis selector Gavin Larsen said: “Jimmy has put in a lot of work to make sure he is physically ready for a return to Test cricket. Having two pace-bowling all-rounders in Jimmy and Doug Bracewell helps the balance of the squad, particularly if playing on pitches which demand a spin-heavy bowling attack.”

    Matt Henry and Jeet Raval are the two players have been dropped from the team that toured Zimbabwe and South Africa, with the squad number trimmed from 16 to 15.

    New Zealand’s tour to India begins on September 22 and will consist of three Tests and five ODIs. The first Test will be played at Green Park, Kanpur, the first time the stadium will host a Test since 2009. The following two Tests will be played at Eden Gardens, Kolkata and Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore respectively.

    New Zealand are currently ranked seventh on the ICC Test Rankings, while India are second and will be looking to move above Pakistan at the top of the rankings with a series win.

    SQUAD

    Kane Williamson (c), Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Mark Craig, Martin Guptill, Tom Latham, Jimmy Neesham, Henry Nicholls, Luke Ronchi, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling.

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