New Zealand A name eleven capped internationals for the India A four-day series

New Zealand have named eleven capped internationals in an extended New Zealand A squad for three four-day matches against India A, the first beginning at Lincoln on Saturday

New Zealand Cricket named a 19-man New Zealand A squad on Friday for a three-match red-ball series against India A, with the opening fixture starting at Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln University, on October 24.

The series runs concurrently with the BLACKCAPS' white-ball series against India and the country's domestic 50-over competition, so only thirteen players will be assembled for each match. The rest of the squad will play in the Ford Trophy.

It gives a largely capped New Zealand side a run against India's leading red-ball prospects a month before the senior Test series, and gives the touring players their first look at New Zealand conditions.

A squad built around capped players

Canterbury batter Rhys Mariu will captain the first two matches, with the captaincy for the third to be decided in due course.

The BLACKCAPS' newest centrally contracted player, Nick Kelly, is in line to play the third match. Adi Ashok, Kristian Clarke, Dean Foxcroft, Matt Fisher, Mitch Hay, Jayden Lennox, Ben Lister, Henry Nicholls and Tim Robinson are the other capped internationals in line to feature.

Rotating the squad across three fixtures allows New Zealand to keep players busy in the Ford Trophy without thinning either competition.

India's Test names on the other side

The touring party carries several players named in India's squad for the Test series against the BLACKCAPS beginning November 19, among them Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant and Washington Sundar.

That gives the four-day matches a dual purpose: preparation for the visitors, and a measure for New Zealand's next tier against international-class opposition.

New Zealand Cricket Head of High Performance Development Pete Sanford said the matches were a chance to continue developing New Zealand's stocks. "We're really looking forward to hosting India A," said Sanford.

"They've announced a very strong line up which poses a great opportunity for growth as players to test their strengths against international class," he said. "There's a huge buzz around having India on our shores and I know the squad are raring to get their domestic summer underway."

A first call-up for Cam Paul

Canterbury allrounder Cam Paul is in line for a first New Zealand A appearance after missing the previous tour through injury.

The 21-year-old has played five first-class matches, in which he holds a bowling average of just under 22 and has taken two five-wicket hauls.

"You always want to test yourself against the best and potentially playing against some of those guys is a huge opportunity," Paul said. "I was gutted to just miss out on the last tour, so I'm fizzed to be part of the squad and take that next step up."

Three matches across two Canterbury grounds

The first and third matches are at Bert Sutcliffe Oval at Lincoln University, the second at Hagley Oval in Christchurch from October 31.

The series closes back at Lincoln from November 7, leaving the touring squad a clear run into the senior fixtures.

Hagley Oval also features on the BLACKCAPS' white-ball schedule against India this tour, putting both series in the same corner of the country for much of the window.

How to follow the series

The matches will be live streamed in New Zealand on the NZC YouTube channel, with live scoring at nzc.nz.

In India, NZC's broadcast partner Sony Pictures Networks India will stream all three matches live and exclusively on Sony LIV, with the first two also telecast on Sony Sports Ten 1.

The second four-day match begins at Hagley Oval on October 31, with the series finishing at Lincoln from November 7.

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