TelstraClear Black Caps team to compete in ICC Champions Trophy 2002

New Zealand Cricket today announced the TelstraClear Black Caps side to defend the ICC Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka in September.

The team is:

Stephen Fleming (captain)
Nathan Astle
Shane Bond
Chris Harris
Paul Hitchcock
Kyle Mills
Chris Nevin
Jacob Oram
Mathew Sinclair
Scott Styris
Glen Sulzberger
Daryl Tuffey
Daniel Vettori
Lou Vincent

Chris Cairns, Andre Adams and Shayne O'Connor were unavailable for selection due to injury.

Craig McMillan, Brooke Walker and Matt Horne were also unavailable for selection.

When announcing the team New Zealand Cricket chairman of selectors Sir Richard Hadlee said the vacancies left by the unavailable players provided opportunities for others.

"Mathew Sinclair has another opportunity to cement a place in the team for himself and we will be relying on him to make a contribution at the top of the order."

Sulzberger, who has played three One-Day Internationals for the TelstraClear Black Caps as an off-spin bowler, has been selected primarily as a batsman for the ICC Champions Trophy.

"Glen Sulzberger has a good first-class batting record and will be required to bat in the top six.

"He will also be our second spin bowling option should it be required."

Auckland Aces all-rounder Mills, who injured his shoulder in January just after being selected for the VB Series in Australia earlier this year, has also been named in the squad.

"Kyle made the ball swing and took wickets at the top of the order in Sri Lanka last year.

"He has fully recovered from his injury and he gives us a new ball bowling option as well as being a very useful mid to lower-order batsman."

Hadlee said the toughest decision was omitting Ian Butler.

"We were very impressed with the progress Ian has made and he undoubtedly has a big future in the game.

"However at this stage in the one-day game we believe he is a little bit too expensive and he has a tendency to bowl too many no-balls.

"We have asked Ian to work on this aspect of his game and we expect he will come back a more effective one-day bowler."

In preparation for the Champions Trophy and looking ahead to the World Cup next year, a 20-man squad will travel to Sydney on August 31 for an eight-day training camp. During that time they will play four practice matches, two against New South Wales and two against Tasmania.

The training squad to visit Sydney will include the squad travelling to Sri Lanka as well as six players who will not travel to Sri Lanka. Those players are:

Ian Butler
James Franklin
Matthew Hart
Matt Horne
Craig McMillan
Brooke Walker

Once in Sri Lanka the TelstraClear Black Caps will have a week's preparation during which the team will play a practice match against South Africa on September 11 and possibly another against Zimbabwe on September 12 or 13.

The TelstraClear Black Caps first match is on September 15 against Australia. The team then plays Bangladesh on September 23. Realistically the TelstraClear Black Caps must beat Australia to progress further in the competition.

New Zealand Cricket chief executive Martin Snedden said McMillan, Horne and Walker had made themselves unavailable for the tournament due to concerns about travelling to Sri Lanka.

"Their decision is accepted by New Zealand Cricket," he said.

"When deciding whether to attend the tournament the safety of the team was our top priority.

"We made a thorough assessment of risks to the team which included speaking to Government agencies and a visit to Sri Lanka by TelstraClear Black Caps manager Jeff Crowe and security adviser Reg Dickason to speak to American, British and Australian Foreign Affairs staff and to check security arrangements.

"We have been advised that a ceasefire has been in place in Sri Lanka since February and the country is the most stable it has been for some time.

"There are extensive security processes in place to ensure the safety of the team," Snedden said.

"However, it is accepted that when travelling overseas we cannot make any absolute guarantees about safety."

Players were given the opportunity to decide whether to attend the tournament without pressure from New Zealand Cricket.

"I appreciate that the events in Pakistan were traumatic. As a result players were given the opportunity to consider whether they wished to attend the Sri Lankan tournament.

"It was made clear that players who decided not to attend would not be penalised in any way by New Zealand Cricket," he said.

This point was also made by Hadlee.

"In light of the tragic events that took place on the tour of Pakistan earlier in the year, the selectors completely understand and support those players who have made themselves unavailable for this tournament.

"In no way will their decisions be held against them in terms of future selection."