Blackcaps coach Gary Stead has singled out the play of seamer Adam Milne, after his key role in their 21-run Twenty20 win over Pakistan at Hamilton.
The veteran speedster collected his third-best international T20 figures with 4/33, including the key dismissals of opener Mohammad Rizwan and ever-dangerous Fakhar Zaman.
There may not be a better time for Milne to secure his place in the Blackcaps white-ball squad, with Stead admitting he hasn't been able to touch base with freelancer Trent Boult over World Cup availability in June.
"Trent's over in UAE at the moment and we tried to catch up a couple of times, but haven't managed to do so," he said. "That will be something we can sort out later.
"I'm not sure what his commitments are right at that time yet, so still have to work that out."
Adam Milne celebrates taking the wicket of Mohammad Rizwan of Pakistan
Photo credit: Getty Images
Milne, 31, debuted for New Zealand in 2010, but injury has seen him struggle to lock down a consistent spot in the starting XI since. He will hope his current run of form will help him book a World Cup ticket to the United States and West Indies.
"He's bowling well, his body is staying nice and fresh and fit, which is great," said Stead. "I thought last night he bowled really well, it was another step up from where he was in Auckland.
"It's good to see him play an extended run for a period of time. He hasn't done that for some time, so he'll gain confidence from it, just being on the park and getting through each game."
Even if Boult doesn't return, there will still be plenty of competition among the Kiwi seamers for selection.
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Speedster Lockie Ferguson will return for the final three fixtures of the five-match Pakistan series. He will replace Ben Sears, who also impressed over the opening two matches, snagging Pakistan talisman Babar Azam in back-to-back games.
Along with Milne and Ferguson, Tim Southee and Matt Henry will likely round out Stead's pace attack for the final three games of the series.
Join Newshub at 1pm Wednesday for live updates of the third Blackcaps v Pakistan T20
