There’s plenty of interest in the talented New Zealand A side who have departed for India.
The 16-man squad will play two four-day games and five one-day games against India A, starting in Vijayawada on September 23rd.
With places in the main BLACKCAPS tour up for grabs, we run the ruler over the team, which quite unusually, will have some players coming out of a Kiwi winter in red-hot form.
George Worker
A man who will be absolutely chomping at the bit for this tour!
The Central Stags opener was in ruthless form for English club Knowle & Dorridge over the English summer, smashing the historic Birmingham League’s 39-year-old record for individual season runs.
What a summer;
— Knowle & Dorridge CC (@The_Shire_) September 10, 2017
1,569 runs @ 142av (9 x 💯❗️)
AND
28 wkts @ 12.75av
Remarkable @GeorgeWorker
Safe journey home#tmh pic.twitter.com/1RIrIZ1YoM
The 28-year-old’s left arm orthodox could also prove a valuable asset on Indian pitches.
Colin Munro
Auckland’s left hand master-blaster has played plenty of cricket in India and shapes as an in-form, senior man for the New Zealand A team.
Munro had a stellar season in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), leading the victorious Trinbago Knight Riders batting stats, with 366 runs at an average of 36 and a strike rate of 135.
At 30 years of age, there’s a maturity to Munro’s batting, which when matched with his power, makes him a seductive option for the BLACKCAPS in any format.
Ish Sodhi
Another one to feature in an overseas T20 domestic championship win.
The BLACKCAPS leg spinner played every game for the Nottingham Outlaws in their run to the title in England’s Natwest T20 Blast.
The 24-year-old’s now played 44 games for the BLACKCAPS across three formats and starred for the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash earlier this year, claiming the startling figures of 6-11 in one game.
He’ll be hoping to build on his experiences of touring India last year and will compete in the squad with fellow leg-spinner Todd Astle.
Seth Rance
As he’s done for so much of his career, the Central Stags pace bowler has been quietly going about his business to great success.
The 30-year-old played for New Zealand A coach, Shane Bond’s old club Furness, in England’s north west and helped them to two titles.
Rance claimed an impressive 70 wickets for the season across three formats and also pumped out 550 runs with the bat at an average of 45.
He had his first taste of international cricket earlier this year for the BLACKCAPS in the Dublin Tri-Series and will be hungry to test himself again.
Glenn Phillips
The talented 20-year-old excelled as a late call up to the Jamaica Tallawahs in this year’s CPL.
Batting alongside Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara, Phillips enjoyed a fine run at the top of the Tallawahs batting order, notching 176 runs from his seven bats, striking at better than a run ball.
He led the batting stats in the T20 Super Smash last season and will look to make his mark in the five 50-over matches on this tour.
Batting stocks
Led by captain and BLACKCAPS Test number five Henry Nicholls, the side is not short on batting.
With Worker and Munro laying down pre-tour markers, the Central Districts duo of Tom Bruce and Will Young will be keen to show their credentials in foreign conditions.
And don’t forget BLACKCAPS Test opener Jeet Raval, who will be looking to build on his impressive debut international summer, when he gets his chance in the two First Class tour fixtures. 
Bowling class
The inclusion of Canterbury’s Matt Henry and Auckland speedster Lockie Ferguson underline the strength of this side.
Henry was, until only recently, ranked inside the top 10 on the ICC ODI bowling rankings, while Ferguson featured for the Rising Pune Super Giants in their run to the IPL final this year.
Both players will be desperate to push their case for a start in the main BLACKCAPS tour, as will promising bowling all-rounder Scott Kuggeleijn, who impressed on his debut showing in Ireland in May. 
The New Zealand A side features 13 players who have played for the BLACKCAPS.
New Guys
Auckland all-rounder Sean Solia will get his first taste of the New Zealand A programme, while there’s also plenty of interest around 22-year-old Northern Districts keeper Tim Seifert.
Both players put together consistent domestic seasons last summer and the India A tour should prove a good yard stick for their progress.
Solia has plenty of talent in front of him before the BLACKCAPS could come calling, but Seifert’s in the wicket-keeping conversation alongside Wellington’s Tom Blundell, following the retirement of Luke Ronchi earlier this year.
Blundell in action in his sole international appearance, A T20 against Bangladesh at Mount Maunganui last season. PHOTOSPORT.
New Zealand A squad
Henry Nicholls (c) - Canterbury (25 years old)
Todd Astle - Canterbury (30)
Tom Blundell (Wkt) - Wellington (27)
Tom Bruce - Central Districts (26)
Lockie Ferguson - Auckland (26)
Matt Henry - Canterbury (25)
Scott Kuggeleijn - Northern Districts (25)
Colin Munro - Auckland (30)
Glenn Phillips (Wkt) - Auckland (20)
Seth Rance - Central Districts (30)
Jeet Raval - Auckland (28)
Tim Seifert (Wkt) - Northern Districts (22)
Ish Sodhi - Northern Districts (24)
Sean Solia - Auckland (24)
George Worker - Central Districts (28)
Will Young - Central Districts (24)
NZ A tour of India schedule
1st Four Day match - 23-26 September, Vijayawada
2nd Four Day match - 30 September-3 October, Vijayawada
1st One Day match - 6 October, Visakhapatnam
2nd One Day match - 8 October, Visakhapatnam
3rd One Day match - 10 October, Visakhapatnam
4th One Day match - 13 October, Visakhapatnam
5th One Day match - 15 October, Visakhapatnam
