Speed demon Trent Boult has been excluded from New Zealand’s squad for the T20I and ODI series against India, which kicks off on Friday 18 November. The pacer has not been included as he canceled his central contract earlier this year. and management felt that players with central or domestic contracts should now be given priority. It is important to note that Boult was part of New Zealand’s T20 World Cup squad and the side reached the semi-finals during the campaign.
Head coach Gary Stead went on to talk about why Boult was not included in the roster after the team was announced.
“When Trent canceled his NZC contract in August, we indicated that priority would be given to those players with either central or domestic contracts, and that has been the case here,” Stead said in an official New Zealand Cricket press release.
“We are all aware of Trent’s world-class ability, but right now – as we build more global events, we want to give opportunities and experiences to others,” he added.
Finn Allen has also been named in the squad, meaning there is no room for seasoned pro Martin Guptill.
“The rise and success of Finn at the top of the league in white-ball cricket means a man of Martin Guptill’s class is missing out – that’s just the nature of the high-performance sport,” said Stead.
“With the 50-over World Cup less than a year away, we are keen to give Finn every opportunity to gain ODI experience, especially against quality opposition such as India. The message to both players is that there is a lot of international cricket ahead and the door is certainly not closed to them,” he added.
Stead said it was always a special time to have India in the country and he was sure the tour would be an exciting one for players and fans alike.
“There is always an incredible buzz when India comes to town. The energy and noise is incredible and I know the team are really looking forward to returning and playing in front of a huge home crowd,” said Stead.
“India is a world-class side full of stars and we know we can be at the top of our game,” he added.
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