Ben Lister bowling for Auckland Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Two potential debutants have been named in the Black Caps ODI squad for the series against Sri Lanka later this month.
Canterbury's Chad Bowes and Auckland's Ben Lister are the new players.
Bowes is Canterbury's leading white ball run scorer this season with 373 List A runs at 46.63 and 359 T20 runs at 39.89.
Lister is fresh off his T20 International debut for New Zealand in India last month while Bowes has earned his first selection in a Black Caps squad.
Tom Latham will lead the side.
ODI Squad regulars Kane Williamson (Gujarat Titans), Tim Southee (Kolkata Knight Riders) and Devon Conway (Chennai Super Kings) will be released early to the Indian Premier League after participating in the Test Series against Sri Lanka, as will Mitchell Santner (Chennai Super Kings) at the request of his franchise.
Following the first ODI at Eden Park on the 25th of March, Finn Allen (Royal Challengers Bangalore), Lockie Ferguson (Kolkata Knight Riders) and Glenn Phillips (Sunrisers Hyderabad) will leave the squad and travel to India.
The departure of those players will see Mark Chapman, Ben Lister and Henry Nicholls join up with the squad ahead of the second ODI at Hagley Oval.
Another feature of the squad is the return of Tom Blundell and Will Young to international white ball cricket.
Canterbury batsman Chad Bowes Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Coach Gary Stead said the series against Sri Lanka presents a big opportunity for a range of players.
"It's always exciting as a coach to have new players in the environment and to have players putting their hands up to be selected again in a particular format.
"Chad has been impressive for a number of seasons at the top of the order for Canterbury as well as being an excellent fielder."
"We are set to play 16 white ball matches between now and the start of May so there will be a number of chances for players to test themselves in familiar and unfamiliar conditions."
"Tom Blundell, in particular, is someone who we've been hugely impressed by in international cricket over the past 18 months as a leader in the Test team and then domestically with the Wellington Firebirds.
"It's an exciting opportunity for Tom ahead of a big year of white ball cricket." Stead said Lister's selection was testament to his determination to recover from illness and injury.
"Ben's had a challenging time in the past six to seven months but he's back fit again and we are really excited by the point of difference he brings to the bowling group."
ODI Squad to face Sri Lanka
Tom Latham (c)
Finn Allen (ODI 1)
Tom Blundell
Chad Bowes*
Michael Bracewell
Mark Chapman (ODI 2 & 3)
Lockie Ferguson (ODI 1)
Matt Henry
Ben Lister* (ODI 2 & 3)
Daryl Mitchell
Henry Nicholls (ODI 2 & 3)
Glenn Phillips (ODI 1)
Henry Shipley
Ish Sodhi
Blair Tickner
Will Young
*Potential debut
