Cricket: Neesham back in Black Caps

Jimmy Neesham will return to the Black Caps for the limited-overs series in South Africa. Photo / Alan Gibson

Several players return to the New Zealand colours for their limited-overs tour to Zimbabwe and South Africa next month.

Allrounder Jimmy Neesham and quick bowler Adam Milne are back after lengthy injury layoffs, while legspinner Ish Sodhi is brought in for the Zimbabwe leg after dropping out of favour last summer. Seamer Doug Bracewell gets another chance for the South African leg only.

Four senior players are missing the tour. Captain Brendon McCullum and seamer Tim Southee are being rested, Corey Anderson is sidelined by a back injury while Trent Boult is also sitting out the trip for back injury reasons. Batsmen Tom Latham and Colin Munro get another chance on the tour.

Kane Williamson will captain the squad, who will play three ODIs in both countries and two T20s in South Africa and one in Zimbabwe.

"We think Ish will be useful on pitches which tend to be slow and take turn, and against a Zimbabwe team stacked with right-handers", coach Mike Hesson said of Sodhi's recall.

"But we're unlikely to need a third spinner in South Africa, which is why we've opted for another seamer in Doug."

Hesson said the absence of four front-liners meant new opportunities for several players.
"There are chances there for batsmen such as Tom and Colin, for Ish and for a handful of bowlers," he said.

"And, not least, it's another good opportunity for (stand-in captain) Kane Williamson to continue upskilling in terms of leadership."

The tour starts with the opening ODI against Zimbabwe in Harare on August 2.

New Zealand team to tour Zimbabwe and South Africa next month:
Kane Williamson (c), Martin Guptill,Tom Latham, Ross Taylor, Grant Elliott, Colin Munro, Luke Ronchi, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Nathan McCullum, Ish Sodhi (Zimbabwe only), Doug Bracewell (South Africa only), Mitch McClenaghan, Ben Wheeler, Adam Milne, Matt Henry.