- Tue, March 15, 2022
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This weekend, Queenstown's Sir John Davies Oval will host a two-day warm-up match that will give the next generation of players the opportunity to play against England Test superstars.
The game will help skipper Ben Stokes and his team get ready for the ICC World Test Championship series, which begins at Hagley Oval on Thursday and consists of three games.
The invited side, usually known as the "New Zealand XI," will now be called the "Prime Minister's XI" in recognition of Prime Minister Luxon's attendance at the game on Sunday.
The invitational team is chosen from among the available domestic players and typically participates in warm-up matches against visiting foreign touring teams.
Troy Johnson, a seasoned batter for the Wellington Firebirds, will lead the team, which will be hosting a number of young players from all over the nation.
The team includes four domestic players on their first-time contracts: Fergus Lellman and Snehith Reddy from Northern Districts, Auckland Cricket's Angus Olliver, and Otago Cricket's Jamal Todd.
A potential 17-year-old all-rounder, Reddy led New Zealand in runs scored at the February ICC Under-19 Men's Cricket World Cup.
The team will be coached by Graeme Aldridge and Bob Carter, both NZC high-performance coaches.
Carter anticipates that the games will be an unforgettable event.
"These young guys are fortunate to have the opportunity to play against elite international cricket players at such an early stage of their careers," Carter added.
"It will create enduring memories in addition to educational opportunities."
Renaming the invited XI for this match to the Prime Minister's XI, according to NZC CEO Scott Weenink, is a clear acknowledgement of the New Zealand Government's longstanding support of cricket.
Weenink stated, "This is a sign of NZC's respect for the government office and to truly thank you for the support cricket has received in recent years."
"Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the government collaborated closely with cricket to make sure we could welcome visiting teams and meet our commercial and broadcast obligations to be a viable business.
"We are truly grateful for their patronage, and we know that Mr. Luxon and Minister Chris Bishop are avid cricket fans."
Luxon wished the Prime Minister's XI team luck.
"We are aware of the importance of sport in our society, and cricket is ingrained in our culture. As they play England, I'm sending my best wishes to skipper Troy Johnson and the Prime Minister's XI," Luxon remarked.
Prime Minister’s XI squad
Troy Johnson (C) (Cricket Wellington)
Harjot Johal (Auckland Cricket)
Scott Johnston (Northern Districts)
Hunter Kindley (Otago Cricket)
Fergus Lellman (Northern Districts)
Riley Mudford (Auckland Cricket)
Angus Olliver (Auckland Cricket)
Nikith Perera (Auckland Cricket)
Snehith Reddy (Northern Districts)
Jesse Tashkoff (Cricket Wellington)
Jamal Todd (Otago Cricket)
Yahya Zeb (Cricket Wellington)
Players that participated in the Plunket Shield's current second round were not taken into consideration for selection.
Schedule of the Prime Minister's XI against England
Day 1: 11:00 a.m. Sir John Davies Oval in Queenstown on Saturday, November 23
Day 2: 11:00 a.m. Sir John Davies Oval in Queenstown on Sunday, November 24
Schedule for the England against. Blackcaps Tegal Test series
First Test: Thursday, November 28–December 2 at Hagley Oval in Christchurch
Second Test: Cello Basin Reserve, Wellington, Friday, December 6–10.
Third Test: Saturday, December 14–18, Seddon Park, Hamilton
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