Black Caps Coach John Wright has set his new squad. Photo / Greg Bowker
Black Caps' coach John Wright has been impressed with the performances of his batsmen during the latest round of the Plunket Shield ahead of their tour to Australia.
Wright announced his 13-man squad today to travel to Australia for a two-test series and a four-day game with Australia A later this month after three of his men had piled on huge scores this week.
New Zealand cancelled a scheduled three-day tour game against a New South Wales outfit in favour of playing in the Plunket Shield.
Kane Williamson (284 not out), Dean Brownlie (171) and Martin Guptill (195 not out) all cashed in on the opportunity to play for their respective provinces and Wright said it was a great confidence booster ahead of a tough series.
"I think that's vindicated our decision to stay back here and play first-class cricket," Wright said.
"Because not all of those batsmen would've got the opportunity to bat for the long time they had. So that's been good and it's good to see some of the newer members of the side getting big runs."
The form of those batsmen and the strangleholds that Brendon McCullum, Jesse Ryder and Ross Taylor have on spots in the New Zealand batting line-up made for some tough calls from Wright, including leaving out the in-form Rob Nicol.
"That's a nice problem to have," Wright said.
"And we'd like to keep as settled line-up as we can and, you know, I think we've got the basis there. We have to be patient. But there's some very talented young players that look like they might have an opportunity to succeed at this level."
Questions will be raised over the selection of the under-performing BJ Watling ahead of Nicol, but the selectors have shown faith in the Northern Districts right-hander, although he will join the squad late after playing an extra round of Plunket Shield cricket to find some form.
The bowling contingent has a new look to it with the addition of exciting 22-year-old left-arm seamer Trent Boult.
Andy McKay, Graeme Aldridge and Jeetan Patel have all dropped out of the squad from the recent one-off test with Zimbabwe and Boult was joined in the mix by his Northern Districts' team-mate Tim Southee, who has returned from a knee injury.
Wright said Boult, who has a first-class bowling average of 25, had forced his way in to the side on the back of some promising early-season form in the Plunket Shield, including bagging eight wickets in the opening match against Auckland.
"He's the player that's really stood out in the last two games. So his efforts in the first two games have earned him an opportunity.
"I think a left-armer's always handy. But he does swing the ball and possibly that's an area that we'd like to exploit. Conditions in Brisbane sometimes suit swing bowling. But it does give us a different balance."
The four-day tour match, which starts next Thursday, (nov 24) and the first test, which runs from December 1-4, will be played in Brisbane and a good performance in the game against Australia A from Boult could see him force his way in the starting XI for the test.
The second test will be played in Hobart from December 9-13.
Southee, Chris Martin and Doug Bracewell will likely make up the pace trio for the tests, with support from spin-bowling all-rounder Daniel Vettori as Wright ruled out the possibility of using a four-prong seam attack.
Wright also said another pace bowler could be added to the squad depending on form in the Plunket Shield and how his players pulled up from the tour match.
Likely contenders would be McKay, Aldridge or Aucklanders Michael Bates and Kyle Mills.
New Zealand squad: Ross Taylor (c), Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Dean Brownlie, Martin Guptill, Chris Martin, Brendon McCullum, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Daniel Vettori, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson, Reece Young.