New Delhi, Oct 11: New Zealand are considering a move to slot Finn Allen down to the middle order during the upcoming five-match ODI series against India that begins on November 4 in New Zealand.
Allen has been recalled for the 50-over series and last featured in the ODIs in late 2023. He has not batted anywhere below the opening slots in List A cricket since 2020. Allen and Tim Seifert open the innings for the Kiwis in the T20Is, but the Kiwis are considering breaking that swashbuckling association in the ODIs.
Head coach Rob Walter confirmed the development after the Kiwis announced their squad for the India series, stating that his demotion to the middle order can help the Blackcaps “influence the game” in crucial middle overs and get more runs.
“It’s unlikely that they (Allen and Seifert) will open together,” Walter said after the squad announcement, as quoted by Cricinfo. “We’ve got sort of a different role in mind for Finn in the middle order. So we want to explore that as an option, obviously, given his capability to sort of influence the game.
“In 50-over cricket, there’s a space in the middle of the game to take on the spinners or the fifth or sixth bowler. So, yeah, we’ll explore that with Finn. Obviously, we know he’s destructive, and it is a little bit different in 50-over cricket. He’s not foreign to 50-over cricket. He’s certainly played enough of it, but it is a slightly new role for him. So, yeah, looking forward to seeing how that goes,” he added.
With a possible move down the order for Allen, Devon Conway is the likeliest option to open with Seifert. (IANS)