Cricket: NZ A squad named

Anaru Kitchen. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) have named a 15-strong New Zealand A squad for a winter training camp ahead of August's emerging players tournament in Brisbane.

"We have taken the opportunity to reward the performance of some more experienced players while providing an opportunity for some young talent who will be important to New Zealand's future," national selection manager Mark Greatbatch said.

"A training camp prior to the EPT will give the players an opportunity to settle into their roles and develop skills at their pace.

"The emerging players tournament is a great way to end the winter programme and provides the players with competitive cricket before they start work with their domestic teams."

The other three teams in the tournament are the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), and emerging cricket teams of South Africa and India.

The tournament will now see the teams completing a round of three-day matches to determine the winner.

Previous tournaments have featured Twenty20 and 50-over matches but the participating nations felt the longer version was more beneficial for overall development.

Allrounder Wheeler, 20, is the only fresh face in the squad. Wheeler, who plays for Central Districts, graduated from under-19 ranks to make his first class debut against Auckland in March last year.

The New Zealand team will assemble for their training camp in Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast on July 18 before heading to Brisbane on July 26 for the emerging players tournament.

New Zealand A squad for winter training and the emerging players tournament: Graeme Aldridge, Todd Astle, Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Neil Broom, Dean Brownlie, Derek de Boorder, Daniel Flynn, Anaru Kitchen, Bruce Martin, Andy McKay, BJ Watling, Ben Wheeler, Brad Wilson and Luke Woodcock.

- NZPA