Cricket: Experienced players chosen for NZ A tour to England

Todd Astle is one of eight players with test experience who will tour England with New Zealand A. Photo / AFP

Eight players with test experience have been chosen for the New Zealand A tour to England from late July until early September.

Throw in one-test legspinner Todd Astle, among three players to join the squad for the end-of-tour first-class games and it's nine out of 17 chosen altogether.

Test wicketkeeper BJ Watling will captain the squad which will play nine 50-over games before three-dayers against Kent and Surrey.

The fast-medium bowling will be in the hands of Hamish Bennett, Matt Henry and Scott Kuggeleijn, while Ish Sodhi and left armer Anton Devcich are in for the limited-overs leg of the trip, with Astle and Otago's offspinner Mark Craig coming in for the three-day games.

For several players it is a big chance to press their claims for a callup to the senior side, such as batsman Daryl Mitchell and fit-again quick Adam Milne.

Just two Auckland players are in the group, hard-hitting batsmen Colin Munro and Colin de Grandhomme, and with none in the senior squad to tour the West Indies, it is a grim time for the country's biggest province.

"It's a very important tour in terms of the World Cup and players showing they're able to perform certain roles for us," national coach and selector Mike Hesson said today.

He cited Hamish Rutherford, Tom Latham and Anton Devcich as vying for opening roles in the World Cup.

"They will have a number of opportunities to show they're capable of batting at the top of the order in one-day cricket. It's going to be a huge opportunity for those guys. There are some very contestable positions for the World Cup squad."