Source: Radio New Zealand
Black Caps bowler Lockie Ferguson. Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz / Photosport Ltd 2025
The Black Caps are set to have a full contingent to choose from as they wrap up final preparations for the T20 World Cup in India.
Batter Finn Allen has joined the squad following his stint in the Big Bash and Lockie Ferguson, Michael Bracewell and Jimmy Neesham are all available for selection following injuries.
Allen hit 80 and Ferguson bowled four overs in Sunday’s loss to India in the fifth and final T20 international.
Allen appears set to join Tim Seifert at the top of the order after he led the batting statistics playing for the Perth Scorchers in the Australian T20 league. He scored the most runs, had the third best strike rate and hit the most sixes (38).
Ferguson’s pace is important following the withdrawal of Adam Milne through injury.
All-rounder Bracewell missed the T20 series against India after picking up a calf injury during the one-day series, while Neesham has been ill.
Finn Allen of the Perth Scorchers. AAP / Photosport
Coach Rob Walter is happy with where his squad is at.
“Everyone has had enough T20 cricket to be ready for the start of the competition; even Jimmy who has been ill was very much involved in the Bangladesh Premier League right through to the finals,” Walter said.
“The real positive of the group is that they’re grounded and fairly level through most things. There is always an air of excitement when it comes to a World Cup, but the strength of the group is really a level outlook to the games.”
Bracewell will get the opportunity to prove his fitness in the warmup game against the United States in Navi Mumbai on Friday morning.
“It (calf injury) is tracking as it was supposed to, I have the warmup game to tick off the final things and it’s all looking pretty positive,” Bracewell said.
The USA were beaten by India in a warmup game this week, managing 200 as they chased a target of 239.
This will be the USA’s second appearance at a T20 World Cup.
In 2024 they beat Pakistan and qualified for the Super Eight stage of the tournament.
New Zealand’s Michael Bracewell in action. Chris Symes / www.photosport.nz
Black Caps T20 World Cup schedule
8 February: 6:30pm v Afghanistan, Chennai
10 February: 10:30pm v UAE, Chennai
15 February: 2:30am v South Africa, Ahmedabad
17 February: 6:30pm v Canada, Chennai.
The top two teams from the four groups advance to the Super 8 stage where they will be placed into two groups of four teams each, and will play three matches against one another. The top two teams in each group will advance to the knockout (semi-final) stage.
The final is scheduled for 9 March.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
