New Zealand cricket bosses scrambled to rebuild their squad after Major League Cricket wrecked their original plans for the Harare tournament. Four players got emergency call-ups when injuries and scheduling conflicts forced selectors into damage control mode. Devon Conway stepped up as the replacement wicketkeeper after Finn Allen suffered a nasty foot injury during his American adventure. Jimmy Neesham joined the rescue mission alongside fresh talents Mitch Hay and Tim Robinson. The squad shake-up happened just days before the tri-series opener against Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Allen's injury blow left coach Rob Walter devastated because the opener had been smashing runs across the pond. Four other stars including Michael Bracewell and Glenn Phillips remain stuck in America for the MLC championship match. The timing could not have been worse with the final scheduled for Monday morning while the Harare series kicks off the same day. Walter admitted his frustration at losing Allen right when the batsman was peaking. Conway brings serious quality as the emergency replacement according to team management.
Zimbabwe hosts the opening clash against South Africa while New Zealand waits on the sidelines. The Black Caps make their tournament debut two days later against the Proteas at Harare Sports Club. Each nation battles the others twice before the top two survivors meet in the July 26 finale. Six matches will determine which teams earn the right to contest the championship. The compressed schedule leaves little room for error across the 12-day tournament.
Allen's injury blow left coach Rob Walter devastated because the opener had been smashing runs across the pond. Four other stars including Michael Bracewell and Glenn Phillips remain stuck in America for the MLC championship match. The timing could not have been worse with the final scheduled for Monday morning while the Harare series kicks off the same day. Walter admitted his frustration at losing Allen right when the batsman was peaking. Conway brings serious quality as the emergency replacement according to team management.
Zimbabwe hosts the opening clash against South Africa while New Zealand waits on the sidelines. The Black Caps make their tournament debut two days later against the Proteas at Harare Sports Club. Each nation battles the others twice before the top two survivors meet in the July 26 finale. Six matches will determine which teams earn the right to contest the championship. The compressed schedule leaves little room for error across the 12-day tournament.
