Former New Zealand cricketers to face the All Blacks in a charity T20 match

The team formed by the former New Zealand cricketers will face the All Blacks, the Rugby team of their country, in a charity T20 game in Christchurch. The encounter is billed as the Black Clash and will be played on January 25 at the Hagley Oval. With this game, the funds are being raised for the benevolent funds of the rugby and cricket player associations. Stephen Fleming will also feature in the match as player-coach with Brendon McCullum also likely to play.

The likes of Kyle Mills, Grant Elliot and Luke Ronchi will also be involved in the game who have already retired from the highest level. Elliot, among them, announced his retirement from the international arena only in the last week. It will also be interesting to see which team will grab the services of Jeff Wilson who has played for both Rugby and Cricket teams.

Who will all play from Rugby team?

Team Rugby will be coached by Sir Graham Henry and Richie McCaw, Beauden and Jordie Barrett and Israel Dagg will also take part who were exceptional cricketer at the early stage of their career and then decided to play Rugby. Dagg, however, had impressed while bowling to the Australians in Napier in 2005 when he was in the school.

The event is based around the Nelson Mandela Legacy Cup which takes place in South Africa in which the national Rugby team, Springboks, square off against the Proteas cricket team. “I thought if we had the opportunity with a brand as big as the All Blacks, it would pique my interest. There is almost a bit of romanticism around this one, bringing a game to Christchurch in its rebuild,” Fleming said while speaking to Herald on Sunday.

“We’re putting our reputations on the line here. We know just how good the likes of Kieran and his rugby mates are at cricket. They’re exceptional athletes and many of them could have been international cricketers had they chosen another path. So we’re on high alert, that’s for sure,” he further added.

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