BLACKCAPS name 30-man preliminary squad for the 2011 ICC World Cup

The New Zealand Cricket selectors today named a 30-man preliminary squad for the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup to be staged in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Brent Arnel – Northern Knights
Hamish Bennett – Canterbury Wizards
Doug Bracewell – Central Stags
Dean Brownlie – Canterbury Wizards
Ian Butler – Otago Volts
Grant Elliott – Wellington Firebirds
Daniel Flynn – Northern Knights
Martin Guptill – Auckland Aces
Jamie How – Central Stags
James Franklin – Wellington Firebirds
Kyle Mills – Auckland Aces
Adam Milne – Central Stags
Brendon McCullum – Otago Volts
Nathan McCullum – Otago Volts
Peter McGlashan – Northern Knights
Andy McKay – Wellington Firebirds
Rob Nicol – Canterbury Wizards
Jacob Oram – Central Stags
Jeetan Patel – Wellington Firebirds
Jesse Ryder – Wellington Firebirds
Tim Southee – Northern Knights
Shanan Stewart – Canterbury Wizards
Scott Styris – Northern Knights
Ross Taylor – Central Stags
Daryl Tuffey – Auckland Aces
Daniel Vettori – Northern Knights
BJ Watling – Northern Knights
Kane Williamson – Northern Knights
Luke Woodcock – Wellington Firebirds
Reece Young – Canterbury Wizards

The squad, which is to be reduced to 15 players by January 19, includes seven uncapped one-day members; Brent Arnel, Doug Bracewell, Dean Brownlie, Adam Milne, Rob Nicol, Luke Woodcock and Reece Young

Selector Mark Greatbatch said: “We will continue to closely watch the form of all players involved over the coming month.

“A number of uncapped guys who have excelled domestically made the squad. We believe it represents the best one-day cricketers we have in New Zealand.

“There is genuine competition for places as we look to select final 15 for the World Cup and that’s exciting.

“From this group we believe we can select a team that, if it plays to its potential, is capable of and being competitive at the World Cup.”

The BLACKCAPS play warm up matches against Ireland on 12 February 2011 and India on 16 February 2011 before their first World Cup match against Kenya in Chennai on 20 February 2011.

ICC Cricket World Cup schedule - http://www.blackcaps.co.nz/schedule/icc-cricket-world-cup-2011/29/series.aspx