WELLINGTON: Nick Kelly and Joe Carter have been named captains of a youthful New Zealand A side for their upcoming tour of South Africa this month, where the team will feature in three one-day games followed by two four-day encounters
The squad features an impressive mix of current and rising stars, headlined by recent Blackcaps Muhammad Abbas, Zak Foulkes, Mitch Hay, Bevon Jacobs and Rhys Mariu.
All-rounder Foulkes recently earned his first taste of Test cricket in Zimbabwe, with the whippy right-armer returning the best bowling figures on Test debut for a New Zealander with nine for 75.
Abbas made a blockbuster entrance to international cricket in March when he announced himself with 52 off 26 balls against Pakistan in an ODI at McLean Park, breaking the world record for the fastest half-century on ODI debut.
Hay was a consistent performer in the BLACKCAPS white-ball squads over the recent home summer, bursting onto the scene by setting a new world record for most wicketkeeper dismissals in a single T20I innings, with six (five catches and a stumping).
He also scored a match-winning 99 not out in an ODI against Pakistan in Hamilton in April, dragging the team to a total of 292 for eight after coming to the crease at 132 for five. Hay’s efforts went a long way to securing an 84-run victory.
Jacobs and Mariu both made their debuts in the past six months and showed their batting wares, Jacobs smashing an unbeaten 44 off 30 balls on his T20I debut against South Africa.
Mariu (23) made a strong start to his international career, scoring his first ODI 50 in just his second game for New Zealand, against Pakistan at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui.
Two changes feature since the New Zealand A Bangladesh tour earlier this year, with T20 prospect Jacobs and recent Test debutant Matt Fisher included. Their selection reflects team balance, expected South African conditions, and provides opportunities for NZC’s wider playing group.
White-ball captain Nick Kelly enters the tour in good form following back-to-back first-class centuries for New Zealand A on the tour to Bangladesh in May.