New Zealand Cricket (NZC) announced a 15-member squad for the World Test Championship (WTC) final against India, starting 18 June at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton.
Kane Williamson will be back to lead after missing out on the Edgbaston Test against England last week due to an elbow injury.
BJ Watling had missed the Test match as well, due to a back injury. NZC has recalled him as well. The WTC final will be his last game in the international arena.
‘Kane and BJ have certainly benefitted from their week of rest and rehabilitation, and we expect them to be fit and available for the final,’ head coach Gary Stead said in a press conference.
Meanwhile, Will Young is New Zealand’s specialist batting backup, while Tom Blundell is their backup ’keeper.
New Zealand will have one specialist spinner, in Ajaz Patel, and one all-rounder, in Colin de Grandhomme. Ajaz replaced Mitchell Santner after the former picked up 4-59 in 23 overs in their historic eight-wicket win at Edgbaston.
They have left out Doug Bracewell, Jacob Duffy, Daryl Mitchell, and Rachin Ravindra from their 20-men preliminary squad. ‘It was all pretty tough,’ Stead said after trimming the roster.
However, Mitchell and Bracewell will remain in England to play in the ongoing Vitality T20 Blast for their respective county teams, Middlesex and Nottinghamshire.
New Zealand WTC final squad: Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson (c), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, Will Young, BJ Watling (wk), Tom Blundell, Colin de Grandhomme, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Ajaz Patel, Trent Boult, Matt Henry