No surprises in Black Caps T20 World Cup squad

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The Black Caps ICC T20 World Cup squad did not involve a lot of processing.

It is basically the same crew as last time with the addition of a couple of Wellingtonians.

Firebirds pair Finn Allen and Michael Bracewell are the only new faces from the side that made the final of last year’s event in the United Arab Emirates, while fast bowler Adam Milne has retained his place in the squad for the T20 showpiece in Australia next month.

Milne was called in as an injury replacement for Lockie Ferguson (calf) last year and gets his opportunity this time in the absence of Kyle Jamieson, who is still recovering from a back complaint.

Canterbury legspinner Todd Astle and hard-hitting Northern Districts gloveman Tim Seifert have been overlooked.

Those changes were well-signposted.

Devon Conway has been the preferred option with the gloves in the format. The classy left-hander is a part-time gloveman, but his presence behind the stumps allows the Black Caps to play an extra batter or bowler.

Central Districts keeper Dane Cleaver is probably the real victim of that strategy. He has moved ahead of Seifert in the pecking order.

Allen’s inclusion is no surprise. He was unlucky to miss selection for the tournament last time.

He has shown glimpses of his potential at the top of the order, and swatted 101 off 56 balls against Scotland in July.

The 23-year-old will need to repeat that kind of form against better quality opponents before he can put incumbent and veteran opener Martin Guptill under serious pressure.

Guptill will be playing in a record seventh T20 World Cup and will not be easily dislodged.

Allen will be making his first appearance at a senior World Cup event, as will Bracewell, who is enjoying a late career revival.

The powerful 31-year-old transferred from Otago to Wellington in 2017-18 to rejuvenate his form with the bat. In recent seasons, he has reinvented himself as an offspinning all-rounder and caught the attention of the national selectors with some heavy-hitting in the Super Smash last summer.

The Black Caps will warm up for the T20 World Cup with a tournament against Pakistan and Bangladesh, starting in Christchurch on October 7. All seven games will be played at Hagley Oval.

The Black Caps’ opening game at the World Cup is against host Australia in Sydney on October 22. It is a replay of the 2021 final, which Australia won by eight wickets with seven balls to spare.

Black Caps coach Gary Stead is quietly confident.

"It’s great to have this tournament so soon after last year’s event in which we played some really good cricket, but couldn’t quite get over the line at the end,’’ he said.

"With the nucleus of that squad retained, along with the exciting additions of Finn and Michael, we should go into the tournament with plenty of optimism."

Black Caps

The squad

Kane Williamson (captain), Finn Allen, Trent Boult, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee.