BLACKCAPS coach John Bracewell was pleased to be able to name an experienced 14-man squad for next month’s ICC Champions Trophy in India.
back injury ruled him out, while is currently sitting out Middlesex’s First-Class game against Nottinghamshire, also through back injury.
Mason’s absence freed a space for uncapped , while Styris should be fit to play in the short term, having featured prominently for Middlesex in the English season.
And with , and returning to full fitness in time for the flight to the sub-continent, the 14-man touring party takes on a familiar feel.
Bracewell said: “It’s nice to be able to pick what is perceived as your strongest team, based on experience.
“I think it’s a tournament where you’ve got to take players with a good deal of experience too, because of its hit and miss nature – high risk, high reward.
“So the greater the depth you have in your squad, the better the chance you’ll have.”
However, all members of the preliminary squad have been told to attend a pre-tournament camp later this month – plus State Northern Knights bowler .
“We’ve got a 30-man squad named and we’re going to keep that squad,” the coach added.
“They’ve all been instructed to come to the training camp prepared to travel, so we have contingency plans in place.”
The BLACKCAPS begin their ICC Champions Trophy campaign against South Africa in Mumbai on 16 October.
