Twenty20 World Cup: Black Caps call up Ben Sears as fast bowling travelling reserve

The Black Caps’ fast bowling stocks for next month’s Twenty20 World Cup have been given a boost, with Wellington’s Ben Sears joining the 15-man group as travelling reserve.

Sears, 27, will join the squad as a travelling reserve, filling the spot initially taken by Kyle Jamieson, before he was upgraded when Adam Milne was scratched by a hamstring injury.

However, with the pair of Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson both on standby to return home to New Zealand during the World Cup on paternity leave, Sears’ arrival is timely for the Black Caps’ attack.

New Zealand's Ben Sears celebrates the wicket of Pakistan's Faheem Ashraf during the 2nd ODI. Photo / Photosport

Capable of hitting speeds of 150km/h with the ball, Sears heads to India after taking 15 wickets in nine Super Smash matches for Wellington at an average of just under 18, including best figures of 4-25 in his most recent outing against Canterbury.

“Ben’s worked hard to get himself back on the park and it’s been great to see him back playing and performing well,” said coach Rob Walter.

“He’s had a full Super Smash campaign with the Firebirds where he was the competition’s joint second-top wicket-taker from the round-robin stage with 15 wickets from his nine games.

“It will be great to have Ben with us here in India and ready to make an impact at the World Cup should someone get injured.”

So far, Sears has played 22 T20 Internationals for the Black Caps, and taken 23 wickets at an average of 24.73.

This summer, though, has seen his time on the park limited, after a hamstring injury in New Zealand’s 2-0 Chappell-Hadlee series defeat to Australia.

To gain fitness, Sears headed to Australia for a club cricket stint in Melbourne, which has ultimately proved successful given his full season for Wellington.

Sears will arrive in India in time for the Black Caps’ first World Cup warm-up match, against the USA in Mumbai on Tuesday.

New Zealand’s World Cup begins against Afghanistan in Chennai on February 8.