Cricket: Long wait over as Ingram called up

Peter Ingram said that at times he doubted if he would be selected again for his country. Photo / Sarah Ivey

It's been a while coming, so it's no surprise that things got a touch emotional when Peter Ingram was told he had made the New Zealand team to play Bangladesh, starting next week.

When selector Mark Greatbatch made the call, Ingram had wife Aimee and kids Jamie, 2, and 17-week-old Tommy for company as he prepared to fly to Dunedin with his Central Districts teammates for an HRV Cup game.

"Once I got off the phone my wife gave me big hug and that's when it hit me. Yeah, pretty emotional," Ingram said yesterday.

It has been 12 years since the Taranaki 31-year-old last got a call to represent his country. Ingram was in the New Zealand under-19 team which reached the world final in South Africa.

Now his name can be added to those of Kyle Mills, Lou Vincent, Peter McGlashan, James Franklin, Michael Papps and James Marshall who have graduated to the top flight from that squad.

He is one of two new faces in the Twenty20 and ODI squads named yesterday, but while Ingram has long had his supporters, Wellington left armer Andy McKay is a genuine surprise pick in the ODI 12.

Drums have been thumping for Ingram for some time, based on consistently strong performances over the last few seasons, although more so in the first-class game. Ingram admitted he was not immune to the occasional moment of doubt whether the call would ever come.

"The odd time, but you just kept telling yourself it's not worth thinking about," he said.

"I've had lots of support from family and friends, who said just keep playing, try to score some runs and if it comes, it comes."

If there was an eyebrow-raising element to Ingram's selection, it is that it came in the shorter versions of the game, rather than the test side, where his case is stronger.

His name was up in neon after his unbeaten 245, in a record 428-run first-wicket stand with Jamie How to beat Wellington shortly before Christmas. That took him to 2672 first-class runs at a striking 58.08 since the 2006-07 summer.

Not that Ingram's worried about which type of cricket he'll pull the silver fern on in.

"Yeah I was a little bit [surprised]. But, mate, I'm keen as, go out and give it a crack, get stuck in."

Ingram will open when he is in the final XI and could have four opportunities - starting in the Twenty20 international at Hamilton next Wednesday, with three ODIs to follow - to argue his case for a test spot.

Ingram is averaging 39.33 in seven Twenty20 games for Central Districts this month; 30.8 in five one-day games before New Year.

McKay moved from Auckland to Wellington this season, and has still played only 14 one-day matches, for 20 wickets at 28 runs apiece.

But the 29-year-old is equal top wicket taker this season with 11 at 20.63, the same number as Auckland's latest left-armer Michael Bates. It suggests he's in decent form at the moment.

"It's always been a long term goal of mine and it's great to have an opportunity," McKay said.

Ten players are in both 12-man squads. The swaps are between Auckland captain Gareth Hopkins (in for the Twenty20) and Otago's Neil Broom; and offspinner Nathan McCullum (Twenty20) and McKay.

Those pushing Vincent's case for a rapid return will be disappointed; so too Scott Styris' backers, after a strong Twenty20 campaign for Auckland. He has missed both squads but Australia beckon for both later next month and, at least in Styris' case, the selectors know what they'll get.

From the last limited-overs internationals in the United Arab Emirates last November, opener BJ Watling and Aaron Redmond are not there. Watling should be in the test squad to be named next week, while Redmond is just returning from a lengthy groin injury. Injury ruled out Jesse Ryder, Grant Elliott, Shane Bond and Kyle Mills.

* NZ squads

New Zealand squads to play Bangladesh:

Twenty20: Dan Vettori (c), Brendon McCullum, Peter Ingram, Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, James Franklin, Gareth Hopkins, Jacob Oram, Nathan McCullum, Ian Butler, Daryl Tuffey, Tim Southee.

ODI: Vettori, B. McCullum, Ingram, Guptill, Taylor, Neil Broom, Oram, Franklin, Butler, Tuffey, Southee, Andy McKay.