New Zealand Cricket today announced the 30 players included in the preliminary BLACKCAPS squad for the ICC Twenty20 Championship held in South Africa in September.
The squad is:
Andre Adams (State Auckland Aces)
Shane Bond (State Canterbury Wizards)
Neil Broom (State Otago Volts)
Grant Elliott (State Wellington Firebirds)
Stephen Fleming (State Wellington Firebirds)
James Franklin (State Wellington Firebirds)
Peter Fulton (State Canterbury Wizards)
Mark Gillespie (State Wellington Firebirds)
Chris Harris (State Canterbury Wizards)
Paul Hitchcock (State Auckland Aces)
Gareth Hopkins (State Auckland Aces)
Jamie How (State Central Stags)
James Marshall (State Northern Knights)
Chris Martin (State Auckland Aces)
Michael Mason (State Central Stags)
Brendon McCullum (State Otago Volts)
Nathan McCullum (State Otago Volts)
Peter McGlashan (State Northern Knights)
Craig McMillan (State Canterbury Wizards)
James McMillan (State Otago Volts)
Warren McSkimming (State Otago Volts)
Iain O'Brien (State Wellington Firebirds)
Jacob Oram (State Central Stags)
Jeetan Patel (State Wellington Firebirds)
Aaron Redmond (State Otago Volts)
Bradley Scott (State Otago Volts)
Scott Styris (State Auckland Aces)
Ross Taylor (State Central Stags)
Daniel Vettori (State Northern Knights)
Lou Vincent (State Auckland Aces)
“Our players go into the competition with experience of two seasons of State Twenty20 cricket and international matches to draw from,” said selection manager Sir Richard Hadlee.
“Key BLACKCAPS players have been included, with the exception of Kyle Mills.
“The selectors did not consider Kyle after medical advice. He is not yet ready to return to playing, and has had no cricket for five months.”
The selectors have also given Daryl Tuffey, who was in the initial ICC World Cup squad, time to return to full fitness after his injury.
"After the numerous injury problems he has had, the selectors would like to see Daryl Tuffey play some competitive cricket before being considered for the BLACKCAPS again,” Sir Richard added.
“Daryl has opted to play club cricket in Sydney under the guidance of Steve Rixon during late September and October.
“Many of the players included are currently involved in a New Zealand A training camp in Australia ahead of the Emerging Players’ Tournament.
“Those players will take valuable match experience into the Twenty20 Championship, if selected.
“That will be positive for them, and will also be taken into consideration when the selectors meet to determine the final squad of 15 players.
“Glenn Turner, a current selector, will also be on hand at the Emerging Players Tournament to assess the squad.”
The selection panel will reconvene on 11 August to determine the tour squad.
The BLACKCAPS have been placed in Group C for the first round of the tournament. They play Kenya in Durban on 12 September, and Sri Lanka in Johannesburg on 15 September.
