Cricket: Bracewell steps up to tour squad

Doug Bracewell has impressed as a hard-hitting lower order batsman and a lively seamer. Photo / Paul Estcourt

The name Bracewell looms large over recent New Zealand cricket history and it's about to resurface.

Central Districts allrounder Doug Bracewell - son of test quick Brendon and nephew of offspinner and former national coach John - is the big mover in the New Zealand squads named yesterday for the tour of Zimbabwe next month.

The brothers were both aggressive competitors, and the younger Bracewell, 21 next Wednesday, has caught the eye as a hard-hitting, clean-striking lower order batsman and lively seamer.

New Zealand coach John Wright, a teammate of his father and uncle, likes what he's seen.

"Doug has got cricket in his blood and I've got a hunch he may turn out to be a tough competitor, typical of some of his relations," he quipped.

Bracewell did well on the Emerging Players tour to Australia recently and gets a chance in both the test and limited-overs squads.

Wright is sure he'll benefit from being in the environment.

"Doug's had [a couple of] seasons behind him in first-class cricket and we think he's got quite lot of upside," Wright said.

Eight players appear in both lists, led by captain Ross Taylor, who will be on his first jaunt as leader in his own right.

Kyle Mills' last test was in Hamilton two and a half years ago. He gets another opportunity to add to his 44 wickets from 19 tests with senior seamer Chris Martin, lively left armer Andy McKay and Tim Southee, fitness permitting, vying for the new ball.

Southee is recovering from a knee injury, but is in the test squad, fitness permitting.

However no chances will be taken with two tests against Australia around the corner.

"We're very mindful of the fact we need him to be absolutely 100 per cent for Brisbane (where the first test starts on December 1)," Wright said.

Canterbury batsman Dean Brownlie, another who impressed with the Emerging Players, is back after a brief taste last summer and looks like the test No 6 for Bulawayo.

Brownlie outperformed several other batsmen the selectors had in mind at the Emerging Players tournament, and so he's in.

In-and-out pick BJ Watling is back in, and Northern Districts cricket folk will also be pleased that veteran seamer Graeme Aldridge finally gets recognition, in the limited-overs squad.

At 33, and with 253 wickets from 90 first-class games behind him, the 12-season workhorse has done his time, is well regarded by coaches around the country and the absence of Southee and the injured Hamish Bennett didn't hurt his chances.

Aldridge will also be test squad cover for Southee.

Allrounder James Franklin, disappointed to miss a national contract this year, is recalled, Wright confirming he's very much in their T20 thinking at least.

Dan Vettori, whose name has been in national teams for 14 years, is missing from the T20/ODI squad, the former captain having opted to take a break from those versions.

That opens a door, and Nathan McCullum and Luke Woodcock get first dibs on the frontline spin job.

The country's leading players are at a camp in Lincoln until late next week.

The right stuff

New Zealand squads to tour Zimbabwe next month:

Test: Ross Taylor (c), Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum, BJ Watling, Jesse Ryder, Dean Brownlie, Kane Williamson, Reece Young, Doug Bracewell, Dan Vettori, Kyle Mills, Jeetan Patel, Tim Southee, Andy McKay, Chris Martin.

ODI/T20: Taylor (c), Guptill, McCullum, Watling, Ryder, Rob Nicol, Kane Williamson, James Franklin, Jacob Oram, Nathan McCullum, Bracewell, Mills, Luke Woodcock, McKay, Graeme Aldridge.

Tour schedule:
* Oct 15: T20, Harare
* Oct 17: T20, Harare
* Oct 20: ODI, Harare
* Oct 22: ODI, Harare
* Oct 25: ODI, Bulawayo
* Oct 28: Two-day warmup v Zimbabwe Selection, Bulawayo
* Nov 1: Test, Bulawayo