AUCKLAND: Cricket West Indies (CWI) has secured the services of former New Zealand opener Martin Guptill to provide specialist support to the men’s national team for the crucial opening matches of their five-match T20 International (T20I) series against the Blackcaps.
Guptill, a veteran of New Zealand cricket, will aid the touring side specifically for the first two T20Is, scheduled to be played at Eden Park on Wednesday and Thursday. The appointment is a strategic move by the CWI to help the two-time T20 champions acclimatize to the conditions at the Auckland venue.
New Zealand Cricket (NZC) confirmed the arrangement, stating on X (formerly Twitter): “Martin Guptill joins the West Indies camp to provide specialist support to the visitors for the two KFC T20Is at Eden Park starting tomorrow.”
The Auckland-born cricketer had a glittering international career spanning from 2009 to 2022, representing New Zealand in 47 Tests, 198 ODIs, and 122 T20Is, making him one of the most experienced short-format players in the country’s history.
The announcement of Guptill’s consulting role follows the CWI naming its 15-member squad for the series yesterday.
After the initial two matches in Auckland, the remaining fixtures of the series will be played in Nelson on November 9 and 10, concluding in Dunedin on November 13.
West Indies- Shai Hope (c), Alick Athanaze, Ackeem Auguste, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Amir Jangoo, Brandon King, Khary Pierre, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd and Shamar Springer.
New Zealand – Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Robinson, Tim Seifert (wk), Nathan Smith and Ish Sodhi.
