New Zealand A Load Up With International Talent for India A Four-Day Series

New Zealand Cricket has assembled a 19-man New Zealand A squad containing 11 international players for the three four-day matches against India A, the first of which begins in Lincoln on Saturday. The series runs alongside the New Zealand versus India white-ball fixtures.

The squad will be rotated across the three games, with 13 players listed for each match and the remaining six released to play the 50-over Ford Trophy, which starts on October 28. Rhys Mariu will captain in the first and second matches, with the leadership for the third game to be decided in due course despite Mariu being available for that fixture.

The star cast includes Adi Ashok, Kristian Clarke, Dean Foxcroft, Matt Fisher, Mitchell Hay, Jayden Lennox, Ben Lister, Henry Nicholls and Tim Robinson. Nick Kelly, the newest player to receive an NZC central contract, is in line to play the third game. Alongside Mariu, Foxcroft, Matt Boyle, Curtis Heaphy, Simon Keene, Fraser Sheat and Jarrod McKay will feature in all three matches.

A Test of International Class

NZC head of high-performance development Pete Sanford framed the series as a significant opportunity for the host players, given the calibre of opposition India A have named.

“We’re really looking forward to hosting India A,” Sanford said. “They have announced a very strong line up, which poses a great opportunity for growth as players to test their strengths against international class. There’s a huge buzz around having India on our shores and I know the squad are raring to get their domestic summer underway.”

India A’s squad includes KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel, Akash Deep, Devdutt Padikkal, Auqib Nabi, Washington Sundar and Yashasvi Jaiswal, with Rishabh Pant’s participation subject to fitness. Some of those players are expected to form part of India’s Test squad for the two-match series beginning on November 19, at the end of the white-ball leg of the tour.

Paul’s Long-Awaited Debut

Among the more intriguing selections is Cam Paul, the 21-year-old fast-bowling allrounder who will make his New Zealand A debut in the third game. Paul missed the previous tour through injury, and his first-class record offers reason for anticipation: a bowling average just under 22 across five appearances, with two five-wicket hauls.

“You always want to test yourself against the best and potentially playing against some of those guys is a huge opportunity,” Paul said. “I was gutted to just miss out on the last tour, so I’m fizzed to be part of the squad and take that next step up.”

The Squads

First four-day match: Rhys Mariu (capt), Matt Boyle, Max Chu, Kristian Clarke, Dean Foxcroft, Zak Gibson, Mitchell Hay (wk), Curtis Heaphy, Simon Keene, Jayden Lennox, Jarrod McKay, Tim Robinson, Fraser Sheat.

Second four-day match: Rhys Mariu (capt), Matt Boyle, Kristian Clarke, Matt Fisher, Dean Foxcroft, Zak Gibson, Mitchell Hay (wk), Curtis Heaphy, Simon Keene, Jayden Lennox, Jarrod McKay, Tim Robinson, Fraser Sheat.

Third four-day match: Adi Ashok, Matt Boyle, Max Chu (wk), Dean Foxcroft, Curtis Heaphy, Simon Keene, Nick Kelly, Ben Lister, Rhys Mariu, Jarrod McKay, Cam Paul, Henry Nicholls, Fraser Sheat.

                                               

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