New Zealand's Tom Latham to take the driver's seat for an unofficial ODI series against Kangaroos

With Kane Williamson busy playing the ongoing Indian Premier League, Tom Latham will lead New Zealand in the upcoming unofficial ODI series against Australia. Latham will lead a team that can be best called a second-string side as majority of the big names will be missing the three-match series. Apart from Williamson, eight others players — Mitchell Santner, Colin de Grandhomme, Martin Guptill, Lockie Ferguson, Colin Munro, Tim Southee, Mitchell McClenaghan and Ish Sodhi — are presently in India for the IPL. Barring McClenaghan, all the other seven players play a crucial role for New Zealand’s ODI team.

In addition to these players, Ross Taylor will also be not playing in the series. The veteran batsman will be busy playing for county side Nottinghamshire. A 13-member contingent will travel to Australia for the unofficial matches ahead of World Cup. However, only 5 of the 13 names had made the World Cup squad. Apart from Latham, the other World Cup bound players who are in the squad are — Henry Nicholls, Matt Henry, Jimmy Neesham and Tom Blundell.

The other eight players are seen as the potential backups for the 15 players who will go to the World Cup.  Todd Astle and Doug Bracewell, who could not make it to the World Cup squad, have been picked in the side. On the other hand, the likes of Tim Seifert, Corey Anderson and Adam Milne were not picked due to injuries.

The three-match series will start on May 5 with Brisbane being the host for all the games. The New Zealand players will then return home for a few days before making the trip to England.

New Zealand squad

Tom Latham (C), Todd Astle, Hamish Bennett, Tom Blundell, Doug Bracewell, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Henry Nicholls, Hamish Rutherford, Blair Tickner, George Worker, Will Young.

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