It’s been an incredible turn of events for Michael Rippon as he is all set to represent New Zealand’s men’s national cricket team. The new Zealand cricket board have named Rippon in their 15-man Twenty 20 international squad for the series to be played in July and August. The all-rounder has been picked up by the kiwis for the series against Netherlands that is to be played in October this year. What’s more interesting is that Rippon had played against the kiwis back in April while representing the Netherlands. He left his mark in that series picking up three wickets and scoring a valiant half-century with the bat.
Michael Rippon has been able to qualify and get the opportunity to make his way into New Zealand’s side since his move to the island in 2013. Owing to the ICC eligibility rules which state that a player can represent an associate nation while still being available for a full member nation, Rippon will again be wearing the black coloured uniform for the kiwis. Once Michael Rippon is listed for a test playing nations, he cannot represent the associate nation for three years.
Who is Michael Rippon
30-year-old Rippon who was born in Cape Town South Africa has been a part of the Dutch national side for nine years starting from the 2013 roll date. He also had 31 international caps to his name during this time period. A left-arm wrist spinner besides being a fairly good lower middle-order batsman, Rippon has the ability to provide stability to the squad with his all-around abilities on the pitch.
The fact that Michael Rippon can be of some good use with the ball and also can prove to be pretty much handy with the bat in the last overs will be of some relief to the captain and coaching staff for sure. Selector Gavin Larson has said that he has full belief in his decision of adding Rippon to the side. The consistency that the all-rounder has shown over a fair amount of time in New Zealand’s domestic cricket gives him an edge over the rest in the selector’s opinion.
New Zealand’s schedule for the upcoming months is as follows
- Three T20s against Ireland in Belfast
- Two T20s and an ODI against Scotland in Edinburgh
- Two T20s against the Netherlands in Amsterdam on Aug. 4 and Aug. 5.
NZ ODI squad for the upcoming series:- Tom Latham (captain), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Dane Cleaver, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Adam Milne, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner, Will Young.
NZ T20 squad for the upcoming series:- Mitchell Santner (captain), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Dane Cleaver, Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Michael Rippon, Ben Sears, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner.
Big names like Kane Williamson, Tom Southee, Trent Boult and Devon Conway won’t be a part of the tour as they’ll make their way back home after New Zealand’s test series against England comes to a close at the end of June.
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