Cricket: Michael Bracewell and Dane Cleaver earn first call-ups for Black Caps

Michael Bracewell earns his second call-up for the Black Caps. Photosport

Wellington Firebirds all-rounder Michael Bracewell has been named in the Black Caps cricket team for the first time, seven months on from having to turn down his maiden call-up.

The in-form 31-year-old has been included in the T20 and ODI squads for the Netherlands tour later this month, along with uncapped Central Stags wicketkeeper Dane Cleaver, who has been picked for the one-off T20 International at Napier's McLean Park on Friday, March 25.

Bracewell, the nephew of former internationals John and Brendon, son of Otago first-class cricketer Mark and cousin of Black Cap Doug, was originally selected for the New Zealand tour to Bangladesh last September but declined as he awaited the birth of his first child.

Bracewell (478) and Cleaver (369) topped this season's Super Smash runs chart and have featured in the New Zealand A and winter programmes in recent years.
With 12 Black Caps white-ball regulars unavailable due to the IPL, there's opportunities for the pace bowling duo of Ben Sears and Scott Kuggeleijn, who have been selected in just the T20I squad alongside Cleaver.

The 24-year-old Sears will be looking to add to his two T20I caps after his debut in Bangladesh last September, while Kuggeleijn has played 20 games for the Black Caps.
Tom Latham will lead both sides and keep wickets in the three-game ODI series, which carries ICC Super League qualifying points and doubles as Ross Taylor's international career swansong.

Taylor, along with Canterbury batsman Henry Nicholls and Auckland Aces quick Kyle Jamieson, has been selected for just the one-day component of the tour, which begins at Mt Maunganui's Bay Oval on March 29 before heading to Hamilton's Seddon Park for games two and three on April 2 and 4.

Matt Henry and Blair Tickner cover the other pace bowling spots across the two squads along with all-rounders Colin de Grandhomme and Doug Bracewell.

Martin Guptill, Will Young and Mark Chapman provide the batting for both sides, while Ish Sodhi will be the lead spinner.

Black Caps coach Gary Stead said the tour was a great opportunity to further test their white-ball depth.

"Any time you lose 12 frontliners, it's going to be a challenge, but we're really excited by the players we've been able to call on.

"With another T20 World Cup later this year and the ODI World Cup next year, it's a good time to be offering opportunities to a wider group of players."

Stead also congratulated Bracewell and Cleaver on their maiden call-ups to the Black Caps.

"Both players have been on the national radar for some time and certainly deserve their selection off the back of another quality domestic season.

"Michael is a superb ball striker who can mix touch with his power, while his right arm off-breaks are an asset to any side," he said.

"Dane, along with Cam Fletcher, has been the stand-out wicket-keeper-batsman of the Super Smash in recent years. We felt Dane's consistent weight of runs and the role he can play at the top of the order gave him the slight edge.

"We've been pleased with the progress of Ben Sears and I know he's excited about the prospect of featuring on home soil for the first time.

"Tom Latham will lead both sides as he has done in the past and we know he'll bring all his usual skill and experience," Stead added.

"The Netherlands will be highly motivated on their first tour of New Zealand and we know they'll lean on their Kiwi connections in the team for an edge.

"It's going to be a fantastic occasion for the likes of Logan van Beek and Michael Rippon who are well known to New Zealanders. I'm sure those two, in particular, will be relishing the chance to test themselves against our guys on the international stage."

Black Caps ODI and T20 squads for Netherlands tour
Tom Latham (c) (wk)
Doug Bracewell
Michael Bracewell
Mark Chapman
Dane Cleaver (wk) – T20 only
Colin de Grandhomme
Martin Guptill
Matt Henry
Kyle Jamieson – ODI only
Scott Kuggeleijn – T20 only
Henry Nicholls – ODI only
Ben Sears – T20 only
Ish Sodhi
Ross Taylor – ODI only
Blair Tickner
Will Young