Sport

Finn Allen gets Black Caps call-up

18:00 pm on 23 March 2021

The Wellington batsman Finn Allen has been called into the Black Caps for the first time, being named in the New Zealand T20 squad for the three match series against Bangladesh.

The 21-year-old opener was the stand-out player of the domestic T20 competition being the leading run scorer.

Black Caps debutant Finn Allen. Photo: Photosport

Central Districts batsman Will Young has been named in the T20 squad for the first time having paying two tests and two one dayers.

Fast bowlers Lockie Ferguson and Adam Milne also return after injury layoffs.

Ferguson was the star of the early part of the home summer, claiming five for 21 in the season-opening T20 against the West Indies but then suffered a stress fracture in his back.

Milne has played 61 tie for the Black Caps since his debut in 2010, but has not played for the side since November 2018.

He recently played for the Sydney Thunder in the Australian BBL and has been training with Central Districts since coming out of quarantine after returning from Australia last month.

Ferguson, Milne and Allen will depart for the IPL immediately after the Bangladesh T20 series, where they will join Kane Williamson, Trent Boult, Mitchell Santner, Kyle Jamieson, Jimmy Neesham and Tim Seifert, none of whom have been selected for this series.

Tim Southee will captain the T20 side in Williamson's absence while Devon Conway has been selected as the frontline wicket-keeper.

Selector Gavin Larsen said picking the squad had been complex.

"The six guys who will miss this series are incumbents in our T20 side and the decision to give them some time at home with family before they embark on a long stint in India, was principally made with their welfare in mind.

"We're also very aware of the need to give others opportunities in a World Cup year and it's great to be able to introduce Finn and Will to the set-up, as well as welcome back Lockie and Adam," said Larsen.

"Devon's wicket-keeping skills are a real asset to have in a squad and we're keen to ensure he has some international experience in this role to provide us with another option going forward."

All three T20s against Bangladesh will be played as double-headers alongside the White Ferns series against Australia with the opening game in Hamilton on Sunday.

Blacks Caps T20 Squad:

Tim Southee (c)

Finn Allen

Todd Astle

Hamish Bennett

Mark Chapman

Devon Conway (wk)

Lockie Ferguson

Martin Guptill

Adam Milne

Daryl Mitchell

Glenn Phillips

Ish Sodhi

Will Young