With several of their leading players unavailable due to injuries, stand-in New Zealand captain Michael Bracewell will lead a relatively inexperienced side in the three-match ODI series against India, starting on Sunday.
While the Kiwis may lack the experience, the likes of Kyle Jamieson could still prove handy against India on Sunday. Bracewell also confirmed that fast bowler Kristian Clarke would make his debut in the first ODI.
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“We have Kyle Jamieson, who’s been around the game a long time and has plenty of experience. I’ll be leaning a lot on him as captain to lead the bowling attack. He’s a very skilful bowler,” Bracewell was quoted as saying to reporters on the eve of the match.
“We’re still working through the last of our (playing) XI, but I can confirm that Kristian Clarke is making his debut tomorrow (Sunday), so it’s an exciting chance for him. We’re really excited about how he’s been bowling in domestic cricket in New Zealand and also in the build-up over here,” he said.
New Zealand will also have the services of the Indian-origin leg-spinner Adhitya Ashok, who Bracewell said was looking in good rhythm in the nets.
“He’s tall and bowls quickly, gives the ball a good spin. We’re excited to see what he has in this series. I’m sure he’ll go really well. He’s been bowling brilliantly in the nets,” he said.
The Indian tour comes only a few weeks before the T20 World Cup, and Bracewell felt that the upcoming series would be useful to adapt to Indian conditions ahead of the global event next month.
“We perhaps don’t have the experience that we normally have on our side. But in saying that, we come in here with high expectations on how we’re going to play. We want to gain some experience of playing in these conditions and put on a good show for it.”
“It’s a huge benefit to being here this far out from the (T20) World Cup. We’re certainly concentrating on this ODI series and want to have a big impact tomorrow,” Bracewell said.
Michael Bracewell addresses the media ahead of the India vs New Zealand 1st ODI at Vadodara. (Express Photo | Bhupendra Rana) 
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