The Solid Energy New Zealand A Team to tour Australia and India in September and October was chosen by the New Zealand selectors yesterday following a delay while the future of the Champions Trophy in Pakistan was determined.
The team is:
Brent Arnel
Neil Broom
Grant Elliott
Peter Fulton
Mark Gillespie/Iain O’Brien
Martin Guptill
Greg Hay
Nathan McCullum
James Marshall
Michael Mason
Jeetan Patel/Trent Boult
Aaron Redmond
Bradley Scott
Reece Young
BJ Watling
The team will be coached by State Otago Volts coach Mike Hesson and managed by Glenn Turner.
The team will play warm up matches in Brisbane against the Queensland Bulls before travelling to India for a one-day tri series against India A and Australia A.
The team will then play two First Class matches against India A.
Patel and Gillespie are included in the team for the one-day matches while O’Brien and Boult will join the team for the First Class matches in India.
“We have taken the opportunity to assemble a team of emerging talent and players who will benefit from the experience of touring and playing in Australia and India,” BLACKCAPS coach John Bracewell said.
“The tour is helping to build the experience of these players and is part of a programme to build greater depth at the international level,” he said.
New Zealand Cricket also today announced Solid Energy as the naming rights sponsor for the New Zealand A team in Australia and India.
“We’re delighted to have Solid Energy actively involved with cricket in New Zealand,” NZC Commercial Manager Peter Dwan said. “They have been building their customer relationships in India for many years so this support arrangement is a very good one for both sides.”
Barry Bragg, Solid Energy’s Chief Operating Officer and a member of the India New Zealand Business Council, said India has recently emerged as the energy company’s largest export market, with its premium-grade coal highly valued by Indian steelmakers.
“The steel industry is crucial to India’s recent strong growth,” he says. “Cricket is also India’s top sport. At Solid Energy we’re pleased to be associated with a sport which is one of India’s great passions. We wish the Solid Energy New Zealand A Team to India well and we will be watching their progress with a great deal of interest.”
