Retiring Blackcaps stalwart Ross Taylor to play for New Zealand XI against Netherlands ahead of his final ODI series

Napier: Retiring Blackcaps great Ross Taylor will feature for New Zealand XI against Netherlands here next week as he looks to get some game-time ahead of his final ODI series later this month.

New Zealand XI will face Netherlands behind closed doors in two one-day matches at McLean Park on March 17 and 19 followed by a one-off T20 on March 21.

Having been ruled out of Friday's Plunket Shield match for the Central Stags as a Covid-19 'household contact', Taylor will turn out against the touring Dutch at McLean Park in the second one-day warm-up match on March 19 as well as the one off T20 on the evening of the 21st.

Taylor's inclusion headlines a strong mix of Blackcaps hopefuls and rising stars in New Zealand XI squad which will be captained by the in-form Wellington Firebirds skipper Michael Bracewell.

Bracewell, Dane Cleaver and Ben Sears are very much contenders for the Blackcaps white-ball squads to face Netherlands later this month, in light of the unavailability of 12 Blackcaps regulars who will leave for the IPL in the coming weeks.

The rest of New Zealand XI side is a look into the future with Jesse Tashkoff, Jock McKenzie and Matt Boyle recent graduates of the New Zealand U19 programme.

Paul Wiseman will lead the coaching staff and will be supported by Auckland pace bowling coach Azhar Abbas and former Blackcaps wicket-keeper turned Northern Districts network coach BJ Watling.

Watling has been working in the ND coaching network for the past couple of seasons and was head coach for ND A this season as well as assisting the Northern Brave men during their recent Super Smash campaign.

New Zealand XI: Michael Bracewell (c), Matt Bacon, Matt Boyle, Josh Clarkson, Dane Cleaver (wk), James Hartshorn, Mitch Hay, Jayden Lennox, Angus McKenzie, Jock McKenzie, Tim Pringle, Ben Sears, Jesse Tashkoff (game 1), Ross Taylor (game 2 and 3). (UNI)