New Zealand name squad for Windies tour

Wellington, New Zealand — Wellington Firebirds wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi and Otago Volts off-spinner Mark Craig are the new caps named today in the BLACKCAPS squad for the tour to the West Indies starting later next month.

The pair’s selection is the highlight of the 15-strong squad named today to play three Tests in Jamaica, Trinidad and Guyana in June.

The BLACKCAPS selectors have gone for two spinners, two all-rounders and only three pace bowlers in what will be spin-friendly conditions in the Caribbean.

BLACKCAPS Test squad for tour to the West Indies:

Brendon McCullum (c) – Otago Volts

Corey Anderson – Northern Knights

Trent Boult – Northern Knights

Mark Craig – Otago Volts

Peter Fulton – Canterbury Wizards

Tom Latham – Canterbury Wizards

James Neesham – Otago Volts

Luke Ronchi – Wellington Firebirds

Hamish Rutherford – Otago Volts

Ish Sodhi – Northern Knights

Tim Southee – Northern Knights

Ross Taylor – Central Stags

Neil Wagner – Otago Volts

BJ Watling – Northern Knights

Kane Williamson – Northern Knights

BLACKCAPS Head Coach Mike Hesson says Ronchi, a regular member of the BLACKCAPS limited overs teams but making his debut in the Test squad, has been named as the back-up keeper with Tom Latham included purely as a specialist batsman.