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New Zealand cricket selectors are giving Martin Guptill every chance to save his international Twenty20 career against Australia, while leaving the door ajar for the hitter of the moment, Finn Allen.
Guptill, struggling for runs and offside with a hamstring injury, was named to a 13-man Black Caps squad on Sunday to prepare for the opener of the five-game series in Christchurch on Monday ( February 22).
Rather than take the compelling option of pitching Super Smash leading scorer Allen in a debut series, selectors Gavin Larsen and Gary Stead got a dollar each way by naming the 21-year-old as a backup for Guptill. , in the event you fail a physical fitness test in Christchurch. .
Phil Walter / Getty Images
Out of runs and with a hamstring injury, Martin Guptill faces a great series against Australia.
“Finn has been in outstanding shape and he’s certainly an exciting talent,” Larsen said.
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* Gary Stead gives advice on fighting Black Caps starter Martin Guptill to rebound with the bat
“Martin is our starting starter and our best international T20 run scorer, so we support him to get the job done at the top of the order, but he’ll have to prove his fitness, and it’s nice to know we have a replacement ready in Finn. in supporting. “
Guptill received a public show of faith from Larsen and Coach Stead in recent weeks, but in the year of the Twenty20 World Cup loyalty to one of the country’s best white ball hitters can only go so far.
The 34-year-old is facing win or failure against Australia, having scored 85 runs in five T20 innings against the West Indies and Pakistan, and just 46 with 11.5 for Auckland in the Super Smash.
Andrew Cornaga / Photosport
Firebirds hitter Finn Allen splashed the boundary in Super Smash and is now on the brink of the Black Caps squad.
Allen, meanwhile, looted 512 runs to 56.88 and a hit rate of 194 at Wellington’s charge for consecutive titles, with teammate Devon Conway rushing to second place (455 to 65) after his impressive 93 knockouts in the final against Canterbury. .
Conway could also be an option to open for New Zealand with Tim Seifert in case Guptill misses the cut, with Auckland’s Mark Chapman included in the middle order and veteran Ross Taylor again unwanted after being eliminated for the Pakistan series. .
Firebirds sailor Hamish Bennett took last place in bowling after missing the Pakistan series due to injury, joining Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Kyle Jamieson on the team.
Of those included in an expanded Black Caps squad against Pakistan before Christmas, Doug Bracewell, Todd Astle, Jacob Duffy, Scott Kuggeleijn, Blair Tickner and Daryl Mitchell were left out.
Mitchell in particular was unlucky after an excellent all-round tournament for Canterbury, but with the one-beat bowling all-rounder included, Jimmy Neesham got the nod.
The Black Caps Twenty20 team to face Australia: Kane Williamson (captain), Martin Guptill, Tim Seifert, Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Hamish Bennett.
* Finn Allen waiting for Guptill, pending an aptitude test
Schedule:
February 22: 1st T20 at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, 7 pm
February 25: 2nd T20 at University Oval, Dunedin, 2pm
March 3rd: 3rd T20 at Sky Stadium, Wellington, 7pm
March 5th: 4th T20 at Eden Park, Auckland, 7pm
7 of March: 5th T20 at Bay Oval, Tauranga, 4:00 pm
