Cricket: Double debut for Bates as selectors cast wider net

Michael Bates. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Getting named in his first New Zealand squad was "a bit of a shock" for Auckland seamer Michael Bates.

So imagine his surprise at being named in both the ODI and T20 squads to play Zimbabwe over the next two weeks at the same time.

If the big left-armer was to make it, he thought T20 would be the one. His numbers justify his selection. As for the ODI group, "that's a pretty good bonus".

Bates, left-arm spinner Ronnie Hira and blockbusting middle-order hitter Colin de Grandhomme all got a callup on Saturday - the latter two in just the T20 squads - to make it a pretty satisfying day for the province.

Bates, 28, has been around the Auckland side since his debut in 2003-04. The longer time went by without getting a call, he admitted wondering whether he would get an opportunity.

"You always doubt yourself slightly so I didn't get ahead of myself.

"And I didn't think it would come this year," said Bates, brother of former All Black and Chiefs loose forward Steven Bates.

But there's a new selection panel and this is the time to widen the net.

Bates and Hira jointly topped the HRV Cup bowling numbers, Bates taking his 14 wickets at 20.85 to help Auckland retain the T20 title. Overall, he's taken 38 wickets in 32 T20 games, and 32 in 24 one-dayers.

There are six uncapped players among the two squads, with that trio and Canterbury's Andrew Ellis and Tom Latham, both in the ODI squad, coming from the country's two best short form teams. That's no coincidence.

"When you're winning it's always looked at in a more positive light than if you're in a team not doing so well. That's one of the benefits of being in a successful team," Bates said.

The sixth newcomer is legspinner Tarun Nethula, the former Auckland player, who switched to Central Districts a couple of seasons ago.

It's a good time to get the nod from coach John Wright, with the world T20 in Sri Lanka later this year. Bates appreciates the significance.

"Getting to the big tournaments and playing for New Zealand is in the back of anybody's mind who plays domestic cricket."

Wright did his numbers "rigorously" and had a veiled warning for the new players.

"We like players who fight," he said.

"Whoever comes in, we're looking for certain qualities and there are some standards we expect them to buy into. Then it's up to them."

The first of three ODIs is in Dunedin on Friday, with the first of two T20s at Eden Park on February 11.

NZ SQUADS

One-day squad

Brendon McCullum (c, Otago), Martin Guptill (Auckland), Rob Nicol (Canterbury), Kane Williamson (Northern Districts), Dean Brownlie (Canterbury), Tom Latham (Canterbury), Jacob Oram (Central Districts), Doug Bracewell (CD), Andrew Ellis (Canterbury), Nathan McCullum (Otago), Tim Southee (ND), Kyle Mills (Auckland), Tarun Nethula (CD), Michael Bates (Auckland).

Twenty20 squad

Brendon McCullum (c), Martin Guptill, Rob Nicol, Kane Williamson, Dean Brownlie, James Franklin (Wellington), Colin de Grandhomme (Auckland), Nathan McCullum, Doug Bracewell, Jacob Oram, Ronnie Hira (Auckland), Tim Southee, Kyle Mills, Michael Bates.