Peak Steady

The New Zealand squad of 13 has been picked for the ODI series against Bangladesh.  It’s good to see 50 Over cricket back, but did it ever go away?

Forget your over-marketed Steady the Ship hats, because Williamson is injured.  But this squad is very, very Steady.

Trent Boult

Devon Conway

Martin Guptill

Matt Henry

Kyle Jamieson

Tom Latham (c) (wk)

Daryl Mitchell

Jimmy Neesham

Henry Nicholls

Mitchell Santner

Tim Southee

Ross Taylor

Will Young

You would not have got long odds in picking this 13 man squad, but it’s symbolic of this selection team how loyalty and stability are the pillars of the current coaching and selection set-up.

It is two years since a 15 man squad was picked to compete in the 2019 Cricket World Cup.  They went pretty well and due to a T20 focus since then, plus COVID of course, have played only 4 ODIs.  Three wins at home v India and a loss in Sydney.

That was a 15 man squad; this is a 13 man one.

Comparing the differences you would say that Sodhi and Blundell have been dropped.  A second spinner in New Zealand is always a risk, and when playing at home keeping cover isn’t as important.

Then there are the injury replacements.

Conway for Williamson.

Daryl Mitchell (the fact he hasn’t played an ODI in itself says a bit) for Colin de Grandhomme

And Jamieson for Fergusson.

The only other real change is Young for Munro, who has possibly burnt his last bridge.

So after two years, and minimal ODI cricket changes are glacial.  That in itself is not wrong, but this would have to be the most Steady-Larsen squad picked yet.