Experienced pacers Tim Southee and Trent Boult’s absence leaves a “massive hole” in the New Zealand squad but it also provides a chance to fringe players to step up during the India tour, stand-in-captain Tom Latham said on Tuesday.
While Southee has gone back home after a successful tour of Pakistan, Boult is playing the ILT20 in the UAE, having opted out of a New Zealand central contract. In the batting department, the Black Caps will miss the services of regular skipper Kane Williamson.
“They (Boult, Southee, Williamson) are not in the side and that leaves a massive hole for us. On the other hand, it presents an opportunity for other guys who have been around the squad. Everyone has played international cricket in the squad which is a bonus,” Latham during the pre-match media conference.
“It is their turn to step up. Lucky we have Lockie Ferguson who has played a lot of cricket in India.”
Ferguson will lead the pace attack in the company of Blair Tickner, Doug Bracewell and Henry Shipley. The southpaw also said that senior spinner Ish Sodhi has been ruled out of the first ODI due to a niggle.
