Veteran batsman Ross Taylor will head to the New Zealand XI against the Netherlands in Napier next week to get some playing time before bidding farewell to international cricket in their final ODI series later this month.
Paul Wiseman will lead the coaching staff and will be supported by Auckland fast bowling coach Azhar Abbas and former New Zealand wicketkeeper BJ Watling.
Watling has been working at the ND Coaching Network for the past few seasons and was the head coach of the NDA this season.
Taylor was ruled out of a Plunkett Shield match on Friday for having a COVID-19 ‘home contact’ for the Central Stags. The 38-year-old will take on the visiting Dutch players at McLean Park in the second one-day warm-up match on March 19 as well as the T20 on March 21.
“I look forward to getting down to Napier and playing at one of my favorite grounds at McLean Park,” Taylor said.
“It is a great opportunity to get some time in the middle after missing out on the latest round of the Plunkett Shield and it would be useful to take a look at the touring team ahead of the ODI series.
“I look forward to sharing the dressing room with some new and young faces who I hope can help by imparting some knowledge,” he added.
New Zealand XI will face the Netherlands behind closed doors in Napier on March 17 and 19 in two ODIs followed by a one-off T20I on March 21.
BLACKCAPS will then take on the Netherlands in a T20I at McLean Park on March 25, followed by three ODIs, at Mount Maunganui’s Bay Oval on March 29 and Seddon Park in Hamilton on April 2 and 4.
“The Netherlands are a constantly improving team and they will enjoy the opportunity to play a Test-playing country,” Taylor said.
“They have some familiar players from the New Zealand home scenario, who I’m sure will be valuable to them in terms of understanding the conditions, we know they will play with a lot of pride and expect a good challenge from them,” he added. ” ,
The inclusion of Taylor headlines a strong mix of BLACKCAPS hopefuls and rising stars in the NZ XI squad, which will be captained by Michael Bracewell.
Bracewell, Dane Cleaver and Ben Sears are heavily contenders for the Blackcaps white-ball squad to face the Netherlands later this month, in light of the unavailability of 12 Blackcaps regulars, including captain Kane Williamson, who will be part of the IPL in the coming years. Will leave for Week.
The rest of NZ XI players Jesse Tashkoff, Jock McKenzie and Matt Boyle, along with recent graduates of the NZ U19 program, have a look at the future.
New Zealand XI Team: Michael Bracewell (c), Matt Bacon, Matt Boyle, Josh Clarkson, Dane Cleaver (wk), James Hartshorne, Mitch Hay, Jaden Lennox, Angus Mackenzie, Jock Mackenzie, Tim Pringle, Ben Sears, Jesse Tashkoff (Game 1), Ross Taylor (Games 2 and 3).
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