James Neesham picked for New Zealand A’s unofficial ODIs against India A

Jimmy Neesham didn’t find a place in the New Zealand’s T20I squad for the series against India. The all-rounder had a torrid time during the home series against England a couple of months ago. But the 29-year-old hasn’t completely gone out of radar as far as selection is concerned. He has been picked for New Zealand A’s three-match unofficial One Day series against India A.

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has named a 13-man squad, which consists of a number of Kiwi internationals. Tom Bruce will be leading the side in the games, set to get underway on Friday, January 22 at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln. After the completion of the series, Bruce will be joining the senior team for the final two T20Is on January 31 and February 2.

In the Black Caps’ squad, the 28-year-old Bruce will be swapping places with Colin de Grandhomme, who will be a part of the first three T20Is in Auckland and Hamilton. Tom Blundell, who scored a masterful century in the Boxing Day Test against Australia last month at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, has been picked in the A team as well.

Neesham and Mitchell are important, says chief selector

The likes of Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips and Mark Chapman, who are in the A squad, have quite a bit of experience at the highest level. The series is also a chance for youngsters like Rachin Ravindra and Ollie Newton to step up and perhaps, stake their claim into the national team ahead of the 2020 T20 World Cup in Australia.

As far as Neesham is concerned, he is well and truly in plans for the T20 World Cup. Gavin Larsen, the chief selector, lauded Neesham and also had words of praises for Daryl Mitchell, who is in the national squad for the India series.

“We see both Daryl and Jimmy as important all-rounders in the T20 format. With a travelling squad of just 13 and the need to balance the options for the series, Daryl gets this opportunity against India as a reward for his consistent form for the Black Caps,” Larsen was quoted as saying in Cricbuzz.

Here is the New Zealand A squad: 

Tom Bruce (c), Todd Astle, Tom Blundell (wk), Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Kyle Jamieson, Cole McConchie, Jimmy Neesham, Ollie Newton, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, George Worker.