BLACKCAPS Team, Australian Test Series – March 2010

The following players have been selected to contest the Test match against Australia, which commences Friday 19 March, 2010.

1. Daniel Vettori
2. Brent Arnel
3. Martin Guptill
4. Peter Ingram
5. Brendon McCullum
6. Tim McIntosh
7. Chris Martin
8. Jeetan Patel
9. Mathew Sinclair
10. Tim Southee
11. Ross Taylor
12. Daryl Tuffey
13. B.J. Watling

There is one change to the New Zealand Test team that took on Bangladesh in February. Mathew Sinclair comes in for Neil Broom in the thirteen man squad announced today.

Selector, Mark Greatbatch, said Sinclair has been brought into the squad as cover for the top order batsmen; “We felt we needed a cover top-order batter, rather than cover for our middle order, so Neil is a little unlucky in that respect.”

Greatbatch confirmed that Daniel Vettori will bat at six; “He has been very successful there over the last half-dozen tests. It also gives a very good balance to our side. It enables us to play the five bowlers we are looking for, whether that is four seamers and one spinner, or three seamers and two spinners in our squad, we have the ability to be flexible.

Greatbatch says success in the test matches will depend on doing the simple things well; “Batting time, getting through sessions, being patient with the ball, being disciplined and doing it day after day.”