Daniel Vettori is likely to be joined by fellow off-spinner Jeetan Patel in the first one-dayer against Bangladesh today. Photo / AP
The New Zealand cricket squad for the first of three one-day internationals against Bangladesh today has been named with the tourists likely to field two spinners when the 12th man is named shortly before the toss.
Depending on a final pitch inspection at Sher-e Bangla National Cricket Stadium
in Mirpur, Daniel Vettori and Jeetan Patel are both expected to play at the expense of a seam bowler.
Allrounder Grant Elliott, pace bowler Michael Mason and reserve wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins were omitted from the 12.
It is the same 12 named to play a warm-up match on Tuesday that was subsequently called off due to a sodden outfield.
Weather permitting, today's match will be New Zealand's first outing since their tour of England and Scotland in May-July.
If they sweep the series 3-0 they will improve from fourth to second on the International Cricket Council's one-day rankings behind world champions Australia.
The tour also represents the international comeback of hard-hitting allrounder Jesse Ryder, who will resume his partnership with Brendon McCullum at the top of the order - a combination that proved successful during the last home summer against England.
Bangladesh have never beaten New Zealand in their 11 previous ODI meetings.
The second match is at the same venue on Saturday while the teams then move to Chittagong for the final on Tuesday.
New Zealand,/b>
Daniel Vettori (captain), Brendon McCullum, Jesse Ryder, Jamie How, Ross Taylor, Scott Styris, Jacob Oram, Daniel Flynn, Kyle Mills, Tim Southee, Mark Gillespie, Jeetan Patel (12th man to be named).
Bangladesh
Mohammad Ashraful (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Zunaed Siddique, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mashrafe Mortaza, Abdur Razzak, Shahadat Hossain, Syed Rasel, Mahmud Ullah Riyad, Naeem Islam, Mahbubul Alam (12th man to be named)
- NZPA
