Cricket: Wheeler in line for Black Caps tour debut

Ben Wheeler

England v NZ ODI series

The hard yards Ben Wheeler put in at Nelson Park, Napier, is paying off for the seam bowler in the Black Caps' equation in England.

The Devon Hotel Central Districts Stags cricketer, based in Napier, had worked in tandem with Black Caps seamer Doug Bracewell last summer.

"The groundsman had left an open wicket for Ben and Dougie to work on so they were in good form," CD manager Lance Hamilton said last night, after New Zealand coach Mike Hesson named the 23-year-old left-armer from Blenheim to replace injured Stags speed merchant Adam Milne, of Palmerston North, in the squad for the ODI series against England from June 9.

If Wheeler, who picked up a five-wicket bag for the New Zealand XI against Somerset, is picked he will make his Black Caps debut.

"He showed great composure against Somerset and he has a big future. It will be good to have him in the squad to continue his development," said Hesson, who finds the Bayleys Real Estate Havelock North CC player an exciting prospect.

Hamilton said Wheeler could swing the ball consistently with pace, especially with the Duke ball more there than the Kookaburra here.

"Hopefully he'll get the opportunity but it'll be tough to break into the playing XI who are playing good cricket," he said, adding Wheeler packed a great attitude with his potential.

Wheeler broke a finger a day before the domestic one-day campaign but, over the seven-week layoff, he maintained his fitness with gym workouts.

"While we're pleased for him we're pretty disappointed Dougie missed out on the ODI series as well," Hamilton said of the Sharpies Driving Range Taradale CC allrounder who, with Otago Volts' Neil Wagner, missed the starting test XI to Matt Henry, of Canterbury.

"Dougie's a pretty resilient cricketer and he'll bounce back when the opportunity arises again."