Firebirds trio Hamish Bennett, Tom Blundell and Jimmy Neesham have all been included in the BLACKCAPS squad to face India in three ODIs starting next month.

Bennett returns to the ODI squad for the first time since last playing ODIs in Ireland in 2017, while Blundell and Neesham are included again after their inclusion in last year's World Cup squad.

The series will be the first for the BLACKCAPS one-day team since the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup and coach Gary Stead said his side are under no illusions about the task ahead.

“It’s always a tremendous occasion taking on India and we’ve seen from the T20 series they’re clearly as strong as ever,” he said.

“Tim Southee has an important job leading our new look pace attack, which has a huge opportunity against some of the very best batsmen in the world.

“While the bowling line-up has a fresh look, the batting is very settled and we’ll likely have the same top eight batsmen from the World Cup finals.

“Jimmy and Colin continue as the pace-bowling all-rounders after strong campaigns in England and they will offer us plenty of firepower and versatility.

Trent Boult (broken left-hand), Lockie Ferguson (right-calf strain) and Matt Henry (broken left-thumb) are unavailable because of injury, however Tom Latham has recovered from his broken left finger and has been included in the 13-player squad.

The BLACKCAPS ODI squad assembles in Hamilton on Monday February 3 ahead of the opening game of the series at Seddon Park on the Wednesday.

The three-match series then moves to Auckland for a Saturday encounter at Eden Park before finishing at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui.

BLACKCAPS ODI squad

Kane Williamson (Northern Districts) (c)

Hamish Bennett (Wellington Firebirds)

Tom Blundell (Wellington Firebirds)

Colin de Grandhomme (Northern Districts)

Martin Guptill (Auckland Aces)

Kyle Jamieson (Auckland Aces)

Scott Kuggeleijn (Northern Districts)

Tom Latham (Canterbury) (wk)

Jimmy Neesham (Wellington Firebirds)

Henry Nicholls (Canterbury)

Mitchell Santner (Northern Districts)

Ish Sodhi (Northern Districts) (1st ODI)

Tim Southee (Northern Districts)

Ross Taylor (Central Stags)

Article added: Thursday 30 January 2020