New Broom for New Zealand

Neil Broom is the new name in a New Zealand squad deprived of Scott Styris

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Neil Broom has won a call-up to the New Zealand side for the opening two one-day internationals against West Indies.

The Otago batsman replaces Scott Styris, who broke his thumb during the first Twenty20 against the same opponents on Boxing Day.

Styris is expected to undergo an operation to insert a pin into his right thumb early next week, ruling him out for at least six weeks.

Head of the selection panel Glenn Turner said Broom, 25, had shown his potential as an international batsman.

“Neil performed well with the bat in Australia and India with the Emerging Players and New Zealand A sides,” Turner said.

“He has also been scoring a lot of runs in the State Championship this summer.”

In four matches, the right-hander has scored 382 runs at an average of 63.7 in the four-day competition.

Other changes to the side see Jamie How and Grant Elliott recalled.

Wellington all-rounder Elliott’s return to the national side comes after solid performances in domestic cricket, including taking 3-32 in the State Shield one-day competition, and scores of 63 and 78 with the bat in his two most recent four-day outings.

“Grant gives us options with both bat and ball,” Turner said. “He can come in down the order and push the ball around and also offers a good bowling option with his medium-paced swing.”

The first of five one-day internationals is in Queenstown on New Year’s Eve, followed by a match in Christchurch on January 3.

New Zealand squad: Daniel Vettori (captain), Neil Broom, Grant Elliott, Daniel Flynn, Mark Gillespie, Jamie How, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Jeetan Patel, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor.