Final chance for fringe Black Caps to impress before Champions Trophy

By Kris Shannon

Today’s opening ODI between the Black Caps and Sri Lanka will offer a chance for those on the fringes to play their way into the Champions Trophy squad.

But given the nature of contemporary cricket, what happens at the Basin Reserve will be equally influential as matches played in Australia, South Africa and even Nepal.

Mitchell Santner’s side have been boosted by the return of three front-line players following a T20 series victory over the same opponents, beginning to build towards the 50-over world event in Pakistan and Dubai next month.

Tom Latham, Will Young and Will O’Rourke will likely start their first internationals since the test series defeat by England in December, with Santner reporting a surface that “looked more like a test wicket”.

That appearance was understandable considering the pitch had been under cover for a few days, and considering the venue was set to host only a sixth ODI this century.

It will therefore be no surprise to see four seamers again included in Wellington, with T20 standout Jacob Duffy replacing Tim Southee in the sole change to a pace contingent that last month wore the whites. But given the Black Caps’ Champions Trophy campaign is starting on a spin-friendly surface in Karachi, it will be no shock if the team taking on the hosts on February 19 has a rather different complexion.

With seam teammates O’Rourke and Matt Henry already secure on the plane to Pakistan, Duffy and Nathan Smith have good cause to perform across the next week against Sri Lanka.

The New Zealand selectors favour experience and a fair chunk will be missing when the Champions Trophy squad is named next Sunday, with Southee retired and Trent Boult having suggested his international career is also over.

With that pair and their 275 ODI appearances absent, the 82-cap Henry is now the most senior seamer. As a result, Lockie Ferguson and his 65 games’ experience will be difficult to resist, despite the 33-year-old having declined a central contract and currently plying his trade in the Big Bash League.

Adam Milne (50 ODIs) is likewise in action across the Tasman, though a chequered injury history counts against the 32-year-old, while Kyle Jamieson will surely be allowed to continue rehabilitating from a back injury in domestic cricket.

Four seamers in a 15-strong squad may be sufficient in subcontinental conditions, but a third match against India in Dubai – along with a potential semifinal in the city – further complicates the selection process.

The batting group at least seems settled, with the top eight in Karachi potentially identical to the team who lost a World Cup semifinal to India in 2023.

Since then, the Black Caps have played five ODIs, limiting the opportunities for new batters to impress. Mitch Hay is the only one playing the Sri Lanka series without a ticket to Pakistan, and selector Sam Wells has indicated the 24-year-old can be included as a specialist batter.

That will boost the wicketkeeper’s hopes, considering Latham is the incumbent and cover is provided by Devon Conway – holding a casual contract and soon set to play alongside Kane Williamson in the South Africa T20 tournament.

Hay’s prospects of a place will be determined by whether the selectors prioritise batting over pace or spin bowling for the final spot in the squad.

If more seam and experience is needed, Jimmy Neesham may once more return from the wilderness – this time the Nepal Premier League. The 34-year-old allrounder played his last ODI at the World Cup in November 2023 but did also earn inclusion for last year’s T20 tournament.

If further spin is required to complement Santner, Michael Bracewell, Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra, the 54-cap Ish Sodhi may instead be recalled after featuring in November’s ODI series defeat in Sri Lanka.

“You always probably have 19 or 20 names you’re whittling down to 15,” said coach Gary Stead. “A lot of that may just come down to the balance of the squad and what we feel is right over there.

“We’ve got three games now before that team will be announced, so it’s a nice opportunity for guys to put their best foot forward and try and put their name up in lights for the selectors to see.”

Possible Black Caps Champions Trophy Squad

Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Will Young, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Jimmy Neesham, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy, Will O’Rourke.

This article was first published on nzherald.co.nz and is republished here with permission