Experienced pacers Tim Southee and Trent Boult’s absence leaves a “massive hole” within the New Zealand squad nevertheless it additionally gives probabilities to fringe gamers to step up within the India tour, stated stand-in-captain Tom Latham forward of the primary ODI right here on Wednesday. While Southee has gone again dwelling after a profitable tour of Pakistan, Boult is taking part in the ILT20 within the UAE having opted out of a New Zealand central contract. In the batting division, the Kiwis will miss the providers of normal 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.

“It is their flip to step up. Lucky we’ve Lockie Ferguson who has performed a whole lot of cricket in India,” said Latham in the pre-match press conference on Tuesday.

Ferguson will lead the pace attack in the company of Blair Tickner, Doug Bracewell and Henry Shipley.

The southpaw also informed that senior spinner Ish Sodhi has been ruled out of the first ODI due to a niggle.

Sodhi did turn up in the nets on Tuesday but did not bowl with the usual intensity. A fine player of spin, Latham led from the front by spending maximum time in the nets. “Unfortunately a niggle for Ish. He will not be out there tomorrow however fingers crossed he will probably be out there for the subsequent couple of video games,” said Latham.

New Zealand go into the India ODIs after a memorable 2-1 series win in Pakistan.

With the ODI World Cup scheduled in India in October-November, Latham said the series gains a lot of significance.

“The cricket that we performed in Pakistan was actually good. Some of them had not toured Pakistan ever and to give you a sequence win was very nice. Over right here, we’ll try to adapt to the situations as a lot as we are able to.

“Surfaces in India will potentially be a bit better than what we had in Pakistan. Every time we play India it is a competitive series,” he stated.

In the context of the World Cup, Latham added: “This is our last opportunity to play in these conditions before the World Cup which is not too far away. We will just try to take as many learnings as we can from these conditions. Luckily enough most of the guys have played in Indian conditions.” Latham stated they’ve completed their homework towards the Indian bowlers, together with the spin duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav. Playing in Pakistan additionally served their batters effectively forward of the India tour.

“We are lucky we play these guys (India) a lot here or back home. We have been talking to the guys who have played in India whether in the IPL or international games, in terms of trying to read different deliveries. Spin always plays a big part in India.” Virat Kohli is again to scoring lots of at will, however Latham stated the workforce has made its plans for the star India batter.

“Virat has been playing some great cricket. Looks like he is hitting the ball well. We need to plan as best as we can like we do our scouting on all those guys. We will try to make it as tough as possible for him (to score runs),” he added.

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