Cricket: T20 squad unchanged for South Africa

New Zealand players celebrate a wicket in the opening Twenty20 clash against Zimbabwe. Photo / Getty Images

The Black Caps who beat Zimbabwe in the first Twenty20 have been given the vote of confidence, with no changes made in the squad to play South Africa.

New Zealand Cricket today announced the national selectors have retained the current 14-man squad to play the Proteas in the first two T20s, starting in Wellington on Friday.

That side cruised to a seven-wicket win over the out-gunned Zimbabweans at Eden Park last Saturday night, and the selectors have apparently seen enough before the second and final match in Hamilton on Tuesday.

Changes could be made to the squad after the second South African T20, in Hamilton on Sunday, but that prospect seems unlikely given there is only one match to follow, before the ODI and test series against the South Africans get underway.

New Zealand captain Ross Taylor again misses the T20 squad through injury, though he hopes to return for the ODI series.

New Zealand Twenty20 squad to play the first two matches against South Africa:
Brendon McCullum (c), Michael Bates, Doug Bracewell, Andrew Ellis, Colin de Grandhomme, James Franklin, Martin Guptill, Ronnie Hira, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Rob Nicol, Jacob Oram, Tim Southee, Kane Williamson.

The Twenty20 series against South Africa:

First T20, Westpac Stadium, Wellington, February 17, 7.00pm

Second T20, Seddon Park, Hamilton, February 19, 7.00pm

Third T20, Eden Park, Auckland, February 22, 7.00pm