Matthew Bell Recalled To New Zealand Test Squad
Matthew Bell: recalled to the New Zealand squad after six years out of the side.
©REUTERS/Will Burgess Reuters / Picture supplied by Action Images
With the search on for batsmen with the skill to occupy the crease, Peter Fulton also returns with Bell, who last played for New Zealand in November 2001, rewarded for excellent form in the opening four rounds of the State Championship, in which he averages over 100.
Mathew Sinclair, who tops the domestic averages after playing one match, scoring 290 runs, is also included although Scott Styris and Ross Taylor have been dropped.
Glenn Turner, a selector, commented, "Batting has been a concern in recent seasons so we have selected players who we believe can occupy the crease for long periods.
“The most difficult decisions were around opening the batting and who should bat No. 5.
“In our assessment the bowling attack performed reasonably well in South Africa so we have retained that group.”
It was also revealed that spinner Jeetan Patel will come into the squad for the second Test in Wellington with Mark Gillespie to return if he recovers from a shoulder injury.
The first Test begins in Dunedin on January 5th.
New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (captain), Brendon McCullum (vice captain), Matthew Bell, Craig Cumming, Stephen Fleming, Peter Fulton, Chris Martin, Michael Mason, Kyle Mills, Iain O’Brien, Jacob Oram, Mathew Sinclair
Cricket World.com – For all the latest international cricket news, reports, live international and county cricket scores; broadband radio and TV; free audio commentary; exclusive interviews, women’s cricket, club cricket, youth cricket and disabled cricket news.
