Photo Credit: Cricket Wellington
Ben Sears is to join the BLACKCAPS ODI Squad in Dunedin as cover for Kyle Jamieson, who experienced stiffness in his left hamstring after travelling back from Bangladesh.
The Test squad returned to New Zealand on Tuesday evening and Jamieson then flew on to Dunedin on Thursday.
Coach Gary Stead described the approach as “precautionary”.
“We’re taking a cautious approach with Kyle,” he said.
“We don’t want to rush or push him back, particularly at the very start of our home summer.
“He could play if absolutely necessary but we don’t want to take any unnecessary risks, hence calling in Ben for this first match.
“Ben’s familiar to the team environment and it’s been good to see him back at full fitness for the Firebirds.”
Sears is yet to debut in ODI cricket but featured in the squad for last year’s Chappell-Hadlee Series in Cairns.
Name of Author: New Zealand Cricket
The New Zealand national cricket team, known as the Black Caps, made their Test debut in 1930 against England in Christchurch, becoming the fifth nation to play Test cricket. After waiting 26 years for their first Test win against the West Indies in 1956, they also played their first ODI in 1972–73 against Pakistan. New Zealand are the inaugural World Test Championship champions (2021) and have won the ICC Champions Trophy (2000). They have reached the Cricket World Cup final twice and the T20 World Cup final once.