New Zealand Call Up Form Players For Twenty20

New Zealand Call Up Form Players For Twenty20

James Franklin returns to the New Zealand squad.

©REUTERS/Tim Wimborne (GRENADA) Picture Supplied by Action Images

New Zealand have called up four players who have been in good form in domestic cricket for their Twenty20 International against Australia on Sunday.

Ian Butler (Otago), James Franklin (Wellington), Nathan McCullum (Otago), and Peter McGlashan (Northern Districts) have all played starring roles in the first three rounds of the State Twenty20 and join up with the squad in Australia for the first time while all four men have player either in an ODI or a Twenty20 International for the Black Caps.

Nathan McCullum joins his brother Brendon in the squad - the pair played together against Pakistan in the 2007 Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa.

“James Franklin has been scoring very well in the State Twenty20 competition – and at a very good strike rate," Glenn Turner, head of the selection panel said. "He comes in primarily as a batting all-rounder. Ian Butler will play as a bowling all-rounder with his brisk medium pace, and an ability to hit big at the death.

“Nathan McCullum has also been in good form and is a valuable all rounder. He is well suited to this form of the game with his off-spin and aggressive batting. Peter McGlashan is a good improviser with the bat in the middle order, and also gives us cover for Brendon McCullum as wicketkeeper.”

New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (captain), Neil Broom, Ian Butler, Grant Elliott, James Franklin, Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum, Nathan McCullum, Peter McGlashan, Kyle Mills, Iain O'Brien, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor

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