Allrounder Grant Elliott has been recalled to the New Zealand
squad for the World Cup. Elliott has not played an ODI since November 2013.
Jimmy Neesham was left out of the 15, the most
high-profile omission in a squad that is rich on all-round resources; apart
from Elliott, the fifteen includes Daniel Vettori, Corey Anderson and Nathan
McCullum.
Fast bowler Matt Henry, who was part
of the New Zealand squad for all three complete one-day series they played in
2014 - at home against India and South Africa, and in the UAE against Pakistan
- misses out. The pace department will be led by the lethal pairing of Tim
Southee and Trent Boult, backed up by Mitchell McClenaghan, tearaway quick Adam
Milne and the vastly experienced Kyle Mills.
The batting consists of regulars Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor and
Brendon McCullum, who will likely form the middle order behind openers Martin
Guptill and Tom Latham unless McCullum decides to promote himself to the top of
the order as he had hinted at previously. Luke Ronchi will be the
specialist wicketkeeper, with McCullum and Latham the back-ups.
The squad was announced by coach Mike Hesson at the Hagley Oval, in
Christchurch, where New Zealand will kick off the World Cup on February 14,
against Sri Lanka. "There were some hard decisions to make, but we're
pleased with the overall 15 we've chosen," Hesson said. "A lot of
bowlers have performed brilliantly for us over the past couple of seasons,
which certainly made it difficult, but we think we have the right mix.
"Our batting unit has good depth and Grant's inclusion
assures us strong cover in the middle order. He brings a lot of experience and
his record in New Zealand and Australia conditions is excellent."
Elliott has played 51 ODIs, scoring 1013 runs at 29.79 and
claiming 20 wickets at 27.25 with his medium pace. That batting average is
bumped up to 35.40 at home, and 52.50 in Australia, where he has his only ODI
century till date. Four games into the domestic one-dayers, the Ford Trophy, he
leads Wellington's batting charts with 193 runs at 48.25, at better than a run
a ball.
New Zealand and Sri Lanka are placed in Pool A, alongside
Australia, England, Scotland, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Being co-hosts, New
Zealand will play all their matches at home, and will only leave their shores
should they make the final, which will be in Melbourne on March 29.
New Zealand's World Cup squad
Brendon McCullum (capt), Trent Boult, Grant Elliott, Tom Latham,
Martin Guptill, Mitch McClenaghan, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Adam Milne,
Daniel Vettori, Kane Williamson, Corey Anderson, Tim Southee, Luke Ronchi (wk),
Ross Taylor
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