ICC WTC Final: New Zealand revealed its squad for the ICC World Test Championship final.
New Zealand Squad for World Test Championship Final: Head coach of the New Zealand men’s cricket team Gary Stead on Tuesday revealed the 15 men, strong squad, for the ICC World Test Championship Final.
Stead further said that their regular skipper Kane Williamson will be available to take the field for the marquee clash against India on June 18th.
Williamson was forced to take a rest in the second test game against England due to his left elbow injury. In his absence, Tom Latham led the side and won the game comfortably by eight wickets on the fourth day.
Wicketkeeper batsman BJ Watling, who was also rested for the second test due to back injury, is also named in the squad.
“Kane and BJ have certainly benefited from their week of rest and rehabilitation and we expect them to be fit and available for the final,” Stead said at a press conference after the team’s arrival here for the WTC final starting June 18.
“Playing in a World Cup Final is a really special occasion and I know the guys are looking forward to getting into their work here in Southampton,” he added.
Stead further said that they know their opponent for the finals are a class outfit and we are definitely focused to take on them.
“India are a world-class outfit who possess match winners all through their line-up, so we’re under no illusion about how tough they will be to beat,” he said.
New Zealand has let go Mitchell Santner from the squad and has added Ajaz Patel in the form of just one specialist spinner. Patel performed brilliantly in the second test against England and scalped a couple of crucial wickets.
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Will Young and Tom Blundell are in the squad as the backup batsman and wicket keeper respectively. Colin de Grandhomme is also in the squad.
“We’ve gone with Ajaz as our specialist spinner after an impressive outing at Edgbaston and we believe he could be a factor at the Ageas Bowl,” Stead said.
“Colin’s been an integral member of our Test set-up for many years and it was great to see him return at Lord’s after a long injury lay-off.
“He’s a proven performer at the top level and we back him to do a job with the bat or the ball if called upon.”
The New Zealand management have left out five players . The likes of Mitchell Santner, Doug Bracewell, Jacob Duffy, Daryl Mitchell and Rachin Ravindra will return home.
New Zealand Squad for World Test Championship Final:
Kane Williamson (C), Devon Conway, Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Ross Taylor, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Colin de Grandhomme, Ajaz Patel, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling and Will Young.
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