T20 Cricket News

New Zealand's squad for the third ICC World Twenty20 features a mix of rookies and players on the comeback trail from injury, but that has not been a deterrent for a side that believes they are genuine contenders for the title in the Caribbean.

Coach Mark Greatbatch felt the unit was a balanced one but few players would need to be tested in the warm-up games before New Zealand open the tournament against Sri Lanka on April 30. "We think we have some dynamic batters, who can be lethal in this form of the game. Our bowlers are also very effective Twenty20 performers," he said.

Jesse Ryder, Jacob Oram, Kyle Mills, Ian Butler and Aaron Redmond are still undergoing rehabilitation ahead of the first game and there is a concern that they may play even when not 100% match fit.

Ryder has not played international cricket since last September, having been sidelined with a series of injuries, and described his progress as "probably not 100% but it's as good as it's going to get."

"I've been out for about six months and to come back and to score runs like I did has been good," he said.

Oram, on the road back to full recovery from a knee injury, believed the side was capable of reaching the semi-finals as they did during the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in 2007. "If we can get everyone fit then we're a real chance to go all the way," he said."

On surfaces expected to play slow and low, New Zealand's selectors have included a phalanx of spinners. Daniel Vettori, the captain and arguably the canniest spinner in Twenty20, will be backed up by Nathan McCullum, Rob Nicol and Redmond. "Obviously the squad balance we've got ... means that if they're [the pitches] going to turn and be slow there's definitely going to be the option of using more spin," said Greatbatch.

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