Cricket: Auckland dominates squad

Two test players and a clutch of international contenders form the New Zealand Emerging Players cricket squad for a quadrangular tournament in Brisbane next month.

The 15-strong squad will be led by in-and-out test batsman Peter Fulton and the bowling will be spearheaded by new ball bowler Tim Southee.

Auckland have six players in the squad, including promising batsman Jeet Raval, who hit a double century in the State Championship last summer, legspinner Tarun Nethula, and allrounder Colin de Grandhomme, born in Zimbabwe but eligible for New Zealand within two years.

South African-born left arm bowler Neil Wagner, also two years away from being available for New Zealand, gets his first nod from the national selectors.

"This is an opportunity to give players who have shown potential exposure to a higher level of cricket on the international stage, and in different conditions," selection panel manager Glenn Turner said.

New Zealand, coached by former test players John Wright and Matt Horne, will play Twenty20 and one-day matches against the Emerging Players' squads of South Africa and India and the Australian Institute of Sport team.

EMERGING TALENT

New Zealand Emerging Players team:
Peter Fulton (c), Hamish Bennett (Canterbury), Reece Young, Jeet Raval, Anaru Kitchen, Colin de Grandhomme, Tarun Nethula, Lance Shaw (Auckland), Kane Williamson, BJ Watling, Tim Southee, Te Ahu Davis (Northern Districts), Nick Beard, Neil Wagner (Otago), George Worker (Central Districts).