The Black Caps have named their final ODI squad ahead of the Cricket World Cup, with several players being granted one last chance to make their case to be on the flight to the United Kingdom in May.
A 14-man squad has been selected for the three-match home series against Bangladesh, with Ish Sodhi and Doug Bracewell the two players missing out from the 16 who got a run against India.
Sodhi's omission, in particular, is somewhat of a surprise. Although he took some punishment in his second outing against India, he was extremely economical in his first match, and bowled exceptionally against Sri Lanka.
With Todd Astle preferred, perhaps the selectors have already seen enough to know what Sodhi provides, and instead want to give Astle an uninterrupted opportunity to show his worth ahead of the World Cup. Meanwhile, Bracewell, who showed promise with the bat but didn't make many inroads with the ball, misses out to Colin de Grandhomme and Jimmy Neesham, who take the all-rounder spots in the squad.
Pending a fitness test tomorrow after missing a chunk of the Indian series with a back injury, Martin Guptill will return to the top of the order, where he will team up with Henry Nicholls. Colin Munro misses out for the first two matches, but may get a chance in the third ODI, when he'll be called into the squad in place of the rested Kane Williamson.
