2020/21 NZ vs WI - NZ Squad Announced

Ultimately in 10 days, the series between New Zealand and West Indies will commence at Auckland, with having 3 T20 Internationals and 2 Tests. Previous month, West Indies' squad for both T20Is and ODIs have been announced and they are right now undergoing the quarantine period. Today, Kiwis squad have been announced, which has found some surprising names in it, and also some main cricketers resting in limited overs. Let us take a look on the squad in this blog below.

New Zealand's T20 Squad - Tim Southee ( C ), Hamish Bennet, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Glenn Philips, Tim Siefert and Ross Taylor. 

Wait, where is the name of Kane Williamson and Trent Boult. They both have been rested as they had a busy IPL tour, and their names have been added in the test squad. Even though, the matches are being played at New Zealand, still without the services of Kane Williamson and Trent Boult, it would be a tough job to handle on for Tim Southee. Fresh from IPL, Lockie Ferguson, Mitchell Santner and Jimmy Neesham are expected to finish their quarantine period by Thursday, November 26. Hamish Bennet has been included after a good serious tour against India, in the early 2020. Even though, Daryl Mitchell has some poor numbers with the bat, New Zealand management have still backed him and added in this squad. But, this might be a last chance for him to prove, as he had scored just 97 runs in 9 innings of T20 Internationals. After winning the award of NZ Mens' Domestic Player of Year at 2020, Devon Conway has been called for his International Debut. It is a good chance to seal a spot. Glenn Philips have been added into the squad, due to his recent CPL performances. Surprising is that Colin Munro has been left out. He is going to head on Big Bash League and won't be available to play against Pakistan at Christmas which meant the selectors looking for alternative batting option. 

Along with these cricketers, during the Final T20I, scheduled to be played on Monday, 30th November at Bay Oval, three cricketers named Mark Chapman, Doug Bracewell and Scott Kuggelejin will the T20I Squad as Tim Southee, Kyle Jamieson and Ross Taylor will be available only for first two T20Is, as they head to Hamilton for Test Series against West Indies. 

New Zealand's Test Squad - Kane Williamson ( C ), Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Colin De Grandhomme, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Henry Nichols, Ajaz Patel, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling and Will Young

Batsman Will Young have been named for international call-up, as he has a good average of 42 in First Class Cricket. There is still an approach towards the fitness of Ajaz Patel and Colin De Grandhomme as both have some quite injuries. Still, NZ Cricket Management have decided to take a call after the end of first test, at Hamilton on December 3. Other than that,  the squad looks a bit regular maybe after the end of first test, we can expect some changes. 

New Zealand's Coach Gary Stead said that he was very interested in the commencing of this series, as this will resume cricket in their country. He sees this as an opportunity to exercise on players and do some experimentation for finding a long term success. 

Final thing is that, as New Zealand remains as one of the few countries to became COVID free, audience may be allowed. In this year, during COVID times, they have successfully conducted a rugby game with full jam packed audience, and now in this series it is expected to have audience, which might bring back the normal mindset of the audience.