New Zealand Cricket has announced the New Zealand Emerging Players squad to play in a quadrangular tournament in Australia in July.
The squad of 15 is:
Peter Fulton, captain, (Canterbury)
Nick Beard (Otago)
Hamish Bennett (Canterbury)
Te Ahu Davis (Northern Districts)
Colin de Grandhomme (Auckland)
Anaru Kitchen (Auckland)
Tarun Nethula (Auckland)
Jeet Raval (Auckland)
Lance Shaw (Auckland)
Tim Southee (Northern Districts)
Neil Wagner (Otago)
BJ Watling (Northern Districts)
Kane Williamson (Northern Districts)
George Worker (Central Districts)
Reece Young (Auckland)
The squad includes four players new to New Zealand international selection.
Colin de Grandhomme made his New Zealand first-class debut in 2007, but has previously played for Zimbabwe’s Under-19 and A teams. His selection comes after an impressive season with the bat, including scores of 104 and 103 not out in successive State Championship matches. He finished top of the State Championship MVP rankings and 7th in the overall MVP list.
Otago left-arm medium fast bowler Neil Wagner also comes into the side after overseas experience, having played for the South Africa Academy side in 2008. He made his debut for Otago this past summer with figures that included 5 for 34 against Wellington in the State Shield. Wagner topped the MVP State Shield table and was fourth overall.
Both De Grandhomme and Wagner will be eligible for full New Zealand selection within the next two years.
Auckland’s Anaru Kitchen is another batsman who has performed well in the 2008-09 domestic competition, including an innings of 115 in the State Championship final, and 132 against Northern Districts.
Leg break bowler Tarun Nethula won the overall MVP game average in 2008-09, finishing the season with a first class average of 38.86 and best figures of 4 for 39 against Otago.
Glenn Turner, head of the selection panel, said the Emerging Players tour was an important part of the development programme for New Zealand’s Cricket.
“This is an opportunity to give players who have shown potential exposure to a higher level of cricket on the international stage, and in different conditions,” said Turner.
The side will play a four-way tournament in Brisbane during July against an Australian Institute of Sport team, and Emerging Players sides from India and South Africa. The tournament includes two rounds of Twenty20 and six one-day matches plus finals.
The New Zealand Emerging Players side will be coached by John Wright and Matt Horne, while Mark Greatbatch will be the team manager.
