Cricket: Bracewell absent from NZ one-day squad

Doug Bracewell
Doug Bracewell
Doug Bracewell has been left out of the New Zealand one-day squad for next month's one-day series against South Africa with the selectors believing the bustling seamer needs to manage his workload.

Bracewell was also rested for the limited overs components of the Sri Lankan tour and played domestic cricket instead but is expected to shoulder a heavy workload in the two-test series against South Africa, which gets under way in Cape Town on January 2.

"The decision to leave Doug Bracewell out of the ODI squad is in-line with our policy to sensibly manage player workloads," coach Mike Hesson said. "He has a big role to play in the test series against South Africa and will benefit from the opportunity to freshen up ahead of the home series against England."

New Zealand will play three one-dayers against the Proteas, starting on January 19 in Paarl, where they begin a three-day match against a South African XI tonight.

The 15-man squad includes 11 players who featured in the recent Twenty20 series won 2-1 by South Africa along with BJ Watling, Adam Milne, Kane Williamson and Kyle Mills.

But there is still no Jesse Ryder, who has made himself unavailable indefinitely, and Ross Taylor is also missing after opting out of the South African tour after being deposed as captain. There had been hopes Taylor might be convinced to play in the one-dayers but he's expected to return to play for Central Districts in the New Year instead.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Luke Ronchi, who played a handful of limited-overs matches for Australia in 2008 and who has been in good form for Wellington with the bat, has been overlooked despite the fact he will have qualified to play for the country of his birth.

Auckland left-armer Mitchell McClenaghan continues his rapid rise to international cricket after his impressive performances in the Twenty20 series which also earned him a call-up to the test squad. Corey Anderson, Jimmy Neesham, Ronnie Hira and Colin Munro are also in line to make their one-day international debuts.

"Uncapped players Corey Anderson, Ronnie Hira, Mitchell McClenaghan, Colin Munro and Jimmy Neesham get their chance after excelling in domestic cricket and showing plenty of promise during the recent T20 series," Hesson said.

"They have all had valuable experiences playing against strong opposition and are maturing all the time as cricketers.

"We are confident these young players, in combination with our established senior players, will be highly competitive against South Africa."

Tim Southee, who is out for six weeks with a thumb injury, and Andrew Ellis weren't considered due to injury.

"We believe we've selected a strong squad with a good blend of experienced performers and some very talented younger players who can play high quality limited overs cricket," national selection manager, Kim Littlejohn said.

"We're keen to show consistency in selection for our short-form side and retain the nucleus of the squad who competed in the T20 series along with four players from the last ODI series against Sri Lanka.

"There is healthy competition for places in our starting line-up at present and we are working on developing a larger group of players who can compete at international level."


New Zealand squad named for next month's one-day series against South Africa in South Africa: Brendon McCullum (Otago - c), Corey Anderson (Northern Districts), Trent Boult (Northern Districts), James Franklin (Wellington) Martin Guptill (Auckland), Roneel Hira (Canterbury), Mitchell McClenaghan (Auckland), Nathan McCullum (Otago), Kyle Mills (Auckland), Adam Milne (Central Districts), Colin Munro (Auckland), Jimmy Neesham (Otago), Rob Nicol (Canterbury), BJ Watling (Northern Districts), Kane Williamson (Northern Districts).


 

Add a Comment

OUTSTREAM