New Zealand have announced a series of changes to their squad for the final three T20Is against India, reshaping their pace attack as part of a planned workload-management programme ahead of the five-match ODI series that follows the T20I leg.
The biggest change sees Matt Henry take no further part in the T20I series. Henry, who bowled only two overs in the second T20I in Christchurch, will remain in Christchurch before joining the ODI squad in Auckland on November 2. Lockie Ferguson will also sit out the third T20I in Wellington after departing for Auckland, but he will rejoin the squad for the final two matches of the series.
Kyle Jamieson, meanwhile, comes into the side for the Wellington match. The tall fast bowler, who did not feature in either of the first two matches, will play in the third T20I on Tuesday. Jamieson will then stay on in the capital to turn out for Canterbury in their Ford Trophy fixture on October 31 before linking up with the ODI squad.
Coming into the squad, Blair Tickner joins the group for the final three matches, while Central Districts team-mate Josh Clarkson will be available for selection for the last two T20Is. Matt Fisher will travel with the team to Wellington as pace cover for the third T20I only, before returning to the New Zealand A squad. Jacob Duffy and Nathan Smith remain the other quicks in the squad.
Head coach Rob Walter said the changes reflected the depth available to the Black Caps. “It’s been a competitive start to the T20 series with two close games and plenty more cricket to come. We’re very fortunate with the depth in the squad to be able to call upon different players to help manage our pacers’ workloads, and to try and ensure they’re best placed to perform for the team for all the cricket coming up,” Walter said, as per the New Zealand Cricket website.
New Zealand trail 2-0 in the five-match series after losing both matches in Christchurch by four wickets, and they must beat India in Wellington on October 27 to keep the series alive. The series then moves to Auckland on October 30 and finishes in Hamilton on November 1, before the ODI series begins on November 4.
