Cricket: Disappointment for family as Broom brothers swept aside

It was a tale of two disappointments for the Broom brothers yesterday.

First, Neil Broom (26) got the tap on the shoulder that no Black Cap wants when he was told his services were no longer required in the one-day international series against Australia.

The middle-order batsman was released from the squad in Auckland and made available to Otago for its Plunket Shield game against Canterbury starting in Queenstown today.

Broom has had scores of 19, 0 and 24 in the Chappell-Hadlee series, taking his ODI average to a less-than-formidable 17.52 from 22 games.

But while his return will be welcomed by a Volts side hoping to win a first domestic four-day title in 22 years, it will not exactly be celebrated by the younger member of the Broom household.

Darren Broom (24) was all set for his first-class debut but he has been shuffled out of the squad by his brother.

Meanwhile, Canterbury will field an XI featuring its own family links.

Tom Latham and Logan van Beek, both of whom played for New Zealand at the recent under-19 world cup, are different sorts of players but may be competing for the same spot.

Opening batsman Latham is the son of former New Zealand and Canterbury batsman Rod Latham, while fast bowler van Beek is the grandson of Sam Guillen, who played for Canterbury and New Zealand after emigrating from the West Indies.

Otago will be coached by Vaughn Johnson, in charge on a temporary basis following the secondment of Mike Hesson to the Black Caps.

Earlier this week, Johnson was working with the Canterbury bowlers in his role as a New Zealand Cricket-contracted coach.