Hamilton: New Zealand's selectors have retained the 14-man Twenty20 squad doing duty against Zimbabwe currently for the first two matches against South Africa this coming weekend.
Regular captain Ross Taylor continues to miss out having picked up a calf injury during the one-off Test against Zimbabwe and the team management was hopeful of his return before the ODI series starting February 25. Taylor's deputy Brendon McCullum has been named captain for the first two Twenty20s against South Africa – to be played in Wellington and Hamilton – while rookies Colin de Grandhomme, Ronnie Hira and Michael Bates have been given further opportunities to impress. Continue reading below
New Zealand have bossed Zimbabwe all tour, winning the Test in Napier, three ODIs and the first Twenty20. The series ends with the second Twenty20 match in Hamilton on Tuesday.
South Africa will play three Twenty20s, three ODIs and three Tests in New Zealand.
New Zealand Twenty squad: Brendon McCullum (capt/wk), 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.
