Kiwis Rotate Pacers: Ferguson Misses Third T20, Jamieson Joins
Auckland, October 25: New Zealand has tweaked its fast bowling plans for the last three T20s against India. Matt Henry is out of the remaining games, while Lockie Ferguson will sit out the third T20.
India is ahead 2-0 in the five-match T20 series. Once the T20s are done, both teams will face five ODIs and two Tests. To manage the heavy schedule, New Zealand Cricket is considering rest for several players under its workload management programme.
Henry, who played the first two T20s, bowled only two overs in the second match before leaving with calf stiffness. He will remain in Christchurch and then join the ODI squad in Auckland before the first ODI on November 4.
Ferguson will not join the team travelling to Wellington for the third T20 on Tuesday. He will head to Auckland on Sunday and return to the playing XI for the fourth and fifth matches, to be played in Auckland and Hamilton.
Kyle Jamieson has yet to play in the series. He will go to Wellington for the third T20, then stay on to represent Canterbury against Wellington in round two of the Ford Trophy on October 31. Afterwards, he will be part of New Zealand's ODI preparations.
Blair Tickner will return for the final three T20s to bolster the bowling. Clarkson will play the last two games. Matt Fisher will be the cover player for the third match, travelling with the team to Wellington, before rejoining the New Zealand A setup for his second four-day game against India A.
Tickner and Clarkson had originally been added to replace Jack Foulkes and Mark Chapman, who were ruled out through injury.
Head coach Rob Walter stressed the value of squad depth. "We are fortunate to have depth in the group. We can bring in different players to help manage our fast bowlers' workload and make sure they are ready to perform for the team in all the cricket ahead," he said.
New Zealand has kept Jacob Duffy, Nathan Smith and Adam Milne as additional pace options. The side is determined to resume its campaign against India, who won both matches despite pressure in the final overs.
After the India series, New Zealand will travel to Australia for a four-Test tour, where fast bowlers will be central. That is why the team is managing its pace workload with such care.