Hamish Bennett has earned a recall in the T20I squad of New Zealand for the upcoming five-match series against India. The series will start on January 24. Bennett, who has played one Test and 16 ODIs for the Blackcaps, last seen during an ODI against Bangladesh in Dunedin in May 2017.
His inclusion came on the back of the absence of their two key pacers – Trent Boult and Lockie Ferguson. Both are injured and have not been fit yet. The right-arm medium pacer who is part of a 14-member squad led by Kane Williamson is all set to make his T20I debut.
However, not only the pace-duo, there are other players too who are injured and wouldn’t feature in the series. They are – Matt Henry (left thumb), Tom Latham (right pinky), Seth Rance (Achilles), Doug Bracewell (knee), Will Young (right shoulder), and Adam Milne (ankle). Bennett will lead the pace attack alongside Tim Southee, Blair Tickner, and Scott Kuggeleijn. Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi will handle the spin department.
Bennett has been in good form and he was rewarded with the call-up, thinks the selector, Gavin Larsen.
“We’re delighted to have Hamish back in the fold for what will be a huge series against India,” Larsen said. “Over the past few seasons he’s consistently been one of the top domestic white-ball bowlers and we’ve been impressed how he’s been able to evolve his game. We all know he brings good pace and bounce but it’s the clever variations he’s added that make him such a well-rounded T20 bowler.”
Hamish Bennett is currently the joint-third highest wicket-taker in the T20 Super Smash, with 14 scalps which came at an average of 18.42 and an economy rate of 7.06.
On the other hand, Kane Williamson, who earlier missed the T20I series against England in November with a hip injury, has returned alongside Colin de Grandhomme. Tom Bruce, who will be featured for the last two games, will lead the New Zealand A side against India A.
Another notable change is all-rounder Jimmy Neesham. He missed the final two round-robin games of the Super Smash with the quad muscle injury. He has not been included in this T20I squad and will be seen in New Zealand A side in three one-day matches against India A. Daryl Mitchell replaced him in the national squad.
New Zealand T20I squad
Kane Williamson (C), Hamish Bennett, Tom Bruce (games 4-5), Colin de Grandhomme (games 1-3), Martin Guptill, Scott Kuggeleijn, Daryl Mitchell, Colin Munro, Ross Taylor, Blair Tickner, Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert (WK), Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee.
New Zealand A squad
Tom Bruce (C), Todd Astle, Tom Blundell (WK), Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Kyle Jamieson, Cole McConchie, Jimmy Neesham, Ollie Newton, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, George Worker.
