Uncapped wicketkeeper Tom Blundell and leg-spinner Ish Sodhi have won contentious battles for places in the New Zealand squad to contest the Cricket World Cup.

The Kiwis are the first nation to unveil their 15-man squad for the tournament in England and Wales starting next month, with Kane Williamson leading an experienced batting group and Trent Boult spearheading the bowlers. Williamson and Boult are among seven players who were part of New Zealand’s surge to a maiden final appearance in 2015 under Brendon McCullum. They were well beaten by Australia in the MCG decider.

Also back are top-order batsmen Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor and Tom Latham, and seamers Tim Southee and Matt Henry. It will be Taylor’s fourth World Cup. Latham will be the first-choice keeper, with Wellington’s Blundell promoted as back-up after Tim Seifert was ruled out with a broken finger.
A late bloomer at 28, he has played two Tests and three Twenty20 internationals.

Sodhi has headed off fellow leg-spinner Todd Astle to earn selection, joining left-armer Mitchell Santner as a second tweaker. Big-hitting opener Colin Munro has been retained despite lean ODI returns over the summer, while Colin de Grandhomme and Jimmy Neesham are all-rounders.

Coach Gary Stead has placed faith in experience, with the squad tallying more than 1000 ODIs between them.

NEW ZEALAND SQUAD:

Kane Williamson (capt), Martin Guptill, Henry Nicholls, Ross Taylor, Tom Latham, Colin Munro, Tom Blundell, Jimmy Neesham, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult.

AAP