New Zealand recall Martin Guptill, rest Tom Latham for Sri Lanka ODIs

After finding a new team in the Indian Premier League (IPL) where he will make a comeback in 2019, New Zealand opener Martin Guptill now has found a recall into the national side for the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka at home in January. Besides the 32-year-old Guptill who has a double century in the 50-overs format, all-rounders Doug Bracewell and Jimmy Neesham also returned to the 13-member squad led by Kane Williamson.

Guptill last played for the Black Caps in March in an ODI against England and was sidelined for months because of injury. The Auckland batsman has played 159 ODIs and is just 24 runs short of completing 6,000 runs. He averages almost 43 with his highest score of 237 not out which he slammed against the Windies in the 2015 World Cup being the second highest individual score in the given format.

“It’s great to have Martin back after injury and he’ll obviously add all his class and experience to the side,” News18 cited reports as quoting New Zealand selector and former cricketer Gavin Larsen as the Kiwis busy with their preparation for the ICC World Cup in England and Wales in May-July 2019.

Regular wicketkeeper in ODIs Tom Latham has been rested for the Lanka series making way for 24-year-old Tim Seifert who will make his debut in the ODIs. All-rounder Colin de Grandhomme has also been rested for the series starting in Mount Maunganui on January 3.

NZ testing new players ahead of World Cup 2019

“With the World Cup now on our radar there is a need to look at different players over the home summer,” Larsen said. “We want to win the one-day series against Sri Lanka, and we want to gain as much new information as possible while doing so.”

New Zealand are currently locking horns with Sri Lanka in a three-Test series which is tied 0-0 at the moment. The second Test, which is currently underway in Christchurch, saw the hosts taking an upper hand after a poor batting show in the first innings.

New Zealand squad for Sri Lanka ODIs: Kane Williamson (C), Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Colin Munro, Lockie Ferguson, Ross Taylor, Jimmy Neesham, Henry Nicholls, Tim Seifert (wk), Ish Sodhi

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