Watling earns Kiwis call-up

Opening batsman handed chance to star for Black Caps

Last updated: 16th October 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Watling earns Kiwis call-up

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Injury-hit New Zealand have handed opening batsman BJ Watling his first call-up to the side for the one-day series against Pakistan next month.

The Kiwis have also recalled Scott Styris and Tim Southee with the trio replacing the crocked Jesse Ryder, Grant Elliott and Daryl Tuffey, who were all injured in the Champions Trophy campaign.

There is also a return for Nathan McCullum, who replaces the axed spinner Jeetan Patel.

South African-born Watling has been rewarded for a solid season with Northern Districts and has also performed strongly for the NZ Emerging Players and New Zealand A.

He is also handy with the gloves, and with Gareth Hopkins left out Watling will serve as understudy to Brendon McCullum.

"This tour is a good opportunity for Watling to get a taste of top-level cricket - as selectors we believe he's got strong potential as a top order batsman," said captain Daniel Vettori.

The skipper must pass a fitness test on the hamstring strain that ruled him out of the Champions Trophy final, while Jacob Oram, who recently quit the Test match arena to concentrate on limited-overs cricket, must also pass a test on his pulled hamstring.

Southee and Styris have not been selected since March while Aaron Redmond retains his place after performing well in South Africa recently after being flown in as late replacement for Ryder.

"Aaron Redmond made a strong case for his inclusion with confident performances at the World Twenty20 and Champions Trophy," added Vettori.

"Nathan McCullum and Tim Southee will give us flexibility and options which will suit the short, sharp nature of this tour - but Jeetan Patel and Iain O'Brien are continuing to push hard for places in the squad."

The Black Caps will leave for Dubai on October 27 before playing the first of three one-day internationals on November 3.

The series closes with two Twenty20 internationals before the teams travel to New Zealand for a three-match Test series.

Squad: Daniel Vettori (capt), Shane Bond, Neil Broom, Ian Butler, James Franklin, Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Aaron Redmond, Tim Southee, Scott Styris, Ross Taylor, BJ Watling.