Finn Allen, a top-order batsman, and pace bowler Adam
Milne were left off of New Zealand’s preliminary roster for the ODI World Cup
in favour of all-arounder Rachin Ravindra, who will serve as an additional spin
option.
The inclusion of Kane Williamson was revealed last
week, but as he approaches the end of his ACL injury recovery, it is still
unclear whether he will be ready for the opening encounter against England on
October 5. In the event that Williamson is unable to play in a few games, Tom
Latham would serve as captain.
Tim Southee and Williamson will play in their fourth
ODI World Cup after participating in 2011, 2015, and 2019.
Allen does not make the team, as was implied by his
exclusion from the first ODI against England. Allen did take the field on
Sunday in Southampton during a rain-shortened game, but he recorded a
second-ball duck. At the World Cup, Devon Conway and Will Young are expected to
start for New Zealand.
“We had to make a decision, ultimately, for the
opening batting position and it came down Finn and Will Young,” New
Zealand coach Gary Stead said. “And we just felt that when we looked
through what the potential gameplan was looking like in India, looked at the
grounds, and also looked at the form of the two players as well that Youngy was
the right guy to go with.
“We know the value Will brings and have been
really pleased with the way he’s played in the last couple of games without
going on to get a big one but it certainly looks encouraging.”
In addition to Jimmy Neesham, who played for the Super
Over in the 2019 final, the other specialist quicks include Southee, Trent
Boult, Lockie Ferguson, and Matt Henry. The leading spinners are Mitch Santner
and Ish Sodhi, with Ravindra, who just made his ODI debut earlier this year, as
a supplement.