Sports · Cricket · 1 day ago
New Zealand split ODI squad for India series and consider Finn Allen in middle order
New Zealand will play India in a five-match one-day international series starting November 4.
Some players will leave after the first three matches to prepare for a two-Test series, which begins in Wellington on November 19.
Only six players are named for all five ODIs, while seven others will join for the last two.
Coach Rob Walter said the changes will help New Zealand test its squad depth and prepare for the 2027 ODI World Cup, held in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
The final two matches will give players outside the first-choice group a chance to play against India.
New Zealand also plans to consider Finn Allen, usually a T20 opener, in the middle order.
Walter said the team wants to see whether Allen can attack spinners or less-used bowlers during the middle overs.
New Zealand have split their squad for the five-match ODI series against India to manage Test preparations and assess squad depth.
Several Test specialists will leave after the first three ODIs to prepare for a two-Test series against India.
Seven players will join New Zealand for the final two ODIs, including Finn Allen, whom the team may use in the middle order.
The series is also intended to help New Zealand assess combinations ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.
- Who
- New Zealand’s ODI squad, led by captain Mitchell Santner, and India.
- What
- New Zealand have split their squad for a five-match ODI series. Finn Allen may be tested in the middle order.
- When
- The ODI series begins on November 4. The year is not stated.
- Where
- The series is against India; its venue is not stated.
- Why
- To give Test players time to prepare for the two-Test series, assess squad depth and prepare for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The five-match ODI series against India is scheduled to begin.
Eight Test specialists are set to leave the squad to prepare for the two-Test series.
The first Test against India is scheduled to begin at the Basin Reserve in Wellington.
Seven players are set to join New Zealand’s squad, including Finn Allen.
- ODI series
- Five matches against India
- Squad members in all five ODIs
- Mitchell Santner, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Will Young and Blair Tickner
- Players leaving after first three ODIs
- Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra and Nathan Smith
- Players joining for final two ODIs
- Finn Allen, Kristian Clarke, Matt Fisher, Lockie Ferguson, Mitch Hay, Nick Kelly and Tim Seifert
- First Test
- November 19 at the Basin Reserve in Wellington
- World Cup
- 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia
What people are saying
Obviously every Test match is important for us in terms of championship points, which is why we're extracting some of that squad early for additional preparation before the first Test against India at the Basin Reserve on November 19.
Bringing in seven players for the final ODIs allows us to test our depth and see how those players fare against a world-class side
We've got a different role in mind for Finn in the middle order. So we want to explore that as an option, obviously given his capability to influence the game
In 50-over cricket, there's a space in the middle of the game to take on the spinners or the fifth or sixth bowler. So, we'll explore that with Finn.
Sources
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