New Zealand announce A squad for India tour

New Zealand Cricket has announced its 17-member A squad for the tours of Australia and India starting next month. The team will play two one-dayers and a three-day game against a Queensland XI in Brisbane before departing for India. The second leg of the tour includes a one-day tri-series also featuring Australia A, and two first-class matches against India A.

The squad includes internationals like Peter Fulton, James Marshall and Michael Mason, as well Trent Boult, BJ Watling and Martin Guptill, who were part of the Emerging Players side which beat the Australian Institute of Sport in the Emerging Players Tournament final in July.

Jeetan Patel and Mark Gillespie have been selected for the tri-series alone and they will be replaced by Iain O'Brien and Boult for the four-day games. The squad will be coached by Mike Hesson of Otago and managed by Glenn Turner, the former New Zealand captain.

"We have taken the opportunity to assemble a team of emerging talent and players who will benefit from the experience of touring and playing in Australia and India," John Bracewell, the New Zealand senior team coach, said. "The tour is helping to build the experience of these players and is part of a programme to build greater depth at the international level."

The tri-series will be held in Hyderabad and Chennai and New Zealand will stay back in Chennai for the two four-day matches. The first one begins on September 28 at the Guru Nanak College grounds. The MA Chidambaram Stadium will host the final match, starting October 3.