Saturday, April 4th, 2015

Bj Watling To Captain Black Caps In New Road Clash

Bj Watling To Captain Black Caps In New Road Clash

New Zealand have announced their squads for the forthcoming tour of England which includes a four-day match against Worcestershire at New Road from May 14 to 17.

BJ Watling will captain the side in the four-day games against Somerset and Worcestershire ahead of the first Test against England at Lord's from May 21 as Brendon McCullum will be on IPL duty.

The Black Caps ODI and T20 squad includes paceman Mitchell McClenaghan who had a spell with Worcestershire last season and finished as their leading wicket-taker in the Royal London One-Day Cup.

Martin Guptill, who last played a Test in May 2013, has been recalled to the Test squad.

Guptill scored a competition record 237 not out during the recent World Cup.

Mike Hesson, the New Zealand coach, said Guptill had been picked for his ability to cover several batting positions and would have a chance to further his claims during the two warm-up games at Taunton and New Road.

"This is a stable, established Test side but there will be opportunities for contenders," Hesson said. "Martin's a classically styled batsman and there's really no reason why he can't be as influential in the longer game as he is in the short."

Headingley will host the second Test from May 29. The five-match ODI series will begin on June 9 and the only Twenty20 international of the tour will be played at Old Trafford on June 23.

New Zealand Test squad: Brendon McCullum (captain), Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Mark Craig, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Luke Ronchi, Hamish Rutherford, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson.

New Zealand ODI and T20 squad: Brendon McCullum (captain), Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Grant Elliott, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Mitchell McClenaghan, Nathan McCullum, Adam Milne, Luke Ronchi, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Kane Williamson.