New Delhi: New Zealand will monitor all-rounder Michael Bracewell’s recovery from a minor left-calf strain in their five-match T20I series against India beginning on Wednesday that they view as a perfect preparatory ground for next month’s T20I World Cup.
Bracewell sustained the injury and didn’t bowl in New Zealand’s victory in the third ODI at Indore that enabled them to notch up their maiden 50-over series victory in 37 years of touring India.
“Bracewell will be treated and monitored over the coming days before a decision on his further involvement in the tour is confirmed,” NZ coach Rob Walter in a release issued by New Zealand Cricket.
“It was incredibly special to win the ODI series and create some history. There were lots of special performances combined with fantastic teamwork to achieve something that hadn’t been done before.”
Bracewell and Kristian Clarke, who was added for the first three T20Is, will remain with the Black Caps squad since there is a short turnaround in between the third ODI on Sunday and the first 20-over game on Wednesday in Nagpur.
“Michael has travelled with the squad to Nagpur. But with a short turn-around to the T20 series we’ll need to recover well and refocus quickly to be ready for the opening game,” the 50-year-old coach added.
“We’ve got a fair bit of player movement at the moment with some guys returning from injury for this series, others joining us immediately from franchise cricket and the rest coming off the India ODI series and Super Smash.”
Clarke’s inclusion would boost the visiting team’s pace bowling options, as he impressed with seven wickets in three games, including twice of Virat Kohli, in his maiden ODI series.
“We want to ensure we’ve got enough pace-bowling options for the first three games of this series and it’s a great opportunity for Kristian to stay on with the group a little longer on his first tour of India.
“He certainly showcased his talent in the ODI series, but what was particularly impressive was his calmness and ability to perform under pressure,” Walter said.
‘Perfect prep’
Kiwi pacer Lockie Ferguson views the India series as an ideal opportunity for them to prepare for the T20 World Cup beginning on February 7.
“It’s literally perfect prep. I know they’re not the grounds potentially we’ll play, but just the experience at the time, whether there’s dew factor, whether there’s condition factor, it’s nice to get on the turf and have such a decent build-up into the World Cup,” he said.
“India are one of the top teams in the world, and in their own conditions are world-class. Much like the one-day series, the boys will play hard.”
Ferguson has recovered from a calf injury sustained during an ILT20 game earlier this month is expected to join the Kiwi camp in India.