New Zealand have named 12 players for today’s three-day warm-up match against a South African Invitation team at Boland Park, Paarl.
Dean Brownlie was unavailable for selection due to a stomach bug while Doug Bracewell and Mitchell McClenaghan are the other players from the Test squad not included in the side. Colin Munro has also remained with the squad following the Twenty20 series as batting cover for Brownlie who is unwell and Peter Fulton who is carrying a minor knee injury.
Speaking about the warm-up match, BLACKCAPS Head Coach, Mike Hesson, said: “It’s a big part of their preparation with such a short turn around.
“At the end of the three-day match we only have two days in terms of preparation so we’ve got to get a lot out of this.
“For batsmen it’s about time in the middle. The bowlers have to get their over rates up and their loads up so they can enter the Test match with some confidence.
“We’ve been fortunate enough to be able to play 12 so it gives us an opportunity to play an extra bowler so we can monitor our loads heading into the Test match.”
New Zealand:
Brendon McCullum (c): Otago Volts
Trent Boult: Northern Knights
Daniel Flynn: Northern Knights
James Franklin: Wellington Firebirds
Peter Fulton: Canterbury Wizards
Martin Guptill: Auckland Aces
Chris Martin: Auckland Aces
Bruce Martin: Auckland Aces
Jeetan Patel: Wellington Firebirds
Kane Williamson: Northern Knights
Neil Wagner: Otago Volts
BJ Watling: Northern Knights
SA Invitational team:
Pite van Biljon (c)
Colin Ackermann
Bradley Barnes
Uwe Birkenstock
Petrus Jeftha
Matthew Kleinveldt
Shaun Liebisch
Travis Muller
Keegan Petersen
Siya Simetu
Rassie van der Dussen
Gino Vries