Cricket: Teenager excited by chance

Adam Milne. Photo / Hawke's Bay Today.

The whispers were about that there would be a surprise or two in the T20 squad to play Pakistan, and the whisperers were on the money.

Three uncapped players have been named in a 14 for the three-game series, starting at Eden Park on Boxing Day.

While Wellington left-arm allrounder Luke Woodcock knows his way around the domestic game over a 10-year career, and Dean Brownlie, the exciting Canterbury batsman from Perth is 26, teenage quick Adam Milne is the real eyecatching selection.

The 18-year-old has played just three first-class games and eight T20s for Central Districts.

But he belies a slim frame with his ability to get up around 140km/h.

In a sense it's a win-win situation for the selectors.

Milne needs only to bowl four overs and even if it doesn't work out well, it's still experience he can bank for later.

"It was a bit of a surprise but I'm also excited about the opportunity I've been offered," he said last night.

His season began at the Champions Trophy in South Africa in September - first wicket, India's belligerent test and ODI batsman Suresh Raina - and now into the HRV Cup, Milne is happy with progress.

"It's been going pretty well, there's still a lot to improve on but the ball is coming out quite nicely."

Milne was encouraged by the words of selection convener Mark Greatbatch when his phone rang on Sunday.

"He just said it's not make or break, it's just an opportunity at the top level to get a bit of experience and to look forward to it," Milne said.

Brownlie, 26, is averaging 50 from nine first-class games and has a strike rate of 133 from 14 T20s.

He is a good fielder and was the leading performer at the Australian tournament attended by the New Zealand A team this year.

His name has kept coming up as someone to watch.

Five players are missing from New Zealand's last T20, against Sri Lanka in Florida in May - fast bowler Andy McKay, wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins, allrounders Rob Nicol and Jacob Oram and opener Aaron Redmond.

James Franklin, on the back of his strong ODI form in India, returns to the shortest form, as does burly Otago fast-medium bowler, and hefty late order hitter Ian Butler. who was last involved at the world T20 in the Caribbean in May.

The squad was originally intended to be a 13. However concern over the fitness of Brendon McCullum has enlarged the group by one.

McCullum pulled out of the HRV Cup last week, suggesting all remains less than perfect with the back strain he picked up minutes before the start of the third test in India on November 20.

Northern Districts' inventive wicketkeeper-batsman Peter McGlashan is recalled to fill the wicketkeeping job should McCullum not don the gloves.