New Zealand's Suburbs New Lynn Cricket Club have certainly named a full-strength XI for their Jeff Crowe Cup opener against Hibiscus Coast.
Finn Allen headlines star-studded New Zealand club match-up
There are enough reasons for cricket fans to turn up at Ken Maunder Park in Auckland at 11am local time on Saturday, October 17, to watch as many as five New Zealand internationals in action in the one-day club cricket competition. Bevon Jacobs will turn up for Hibiscus Coast, while SNLCC have listed Finn Allen, Jimmy Neesham, Adithya Ashok, and Ben Lister in their XI.
The fans were blown away by the announcement, taking to Instagram to express their shock and surprise at the squad. "This is obscene," a fan commented, while another suggested the Hibiscus Coast to bat first in the game. Another fan raised a valid question: "Is this even legal??"
Referring to Allen, who holds the record for the fastest century in a men's T20 World Cup, a fan made a sarcastic comment, writing, "F Allen lucky to get a run I reckon." A page named 'benlisterfanpage' went a step ahead: "Ben Lister should open the batting, he'll score 100 and take five wickets."
New Zealand Cricket's official Instagram page also chimed in, replying to the squad announcement post: "Decent XI!"
Allen, Neesham, Ashok and Lister have all represented New Zealand this year. Allen starred at the men's T20 World Cup in March, slamming a record-breaking 33-ball ton in the semifinal against South Africa. However, he hasn’t played international cricket since the tournament's final against India. He is, however, set to feature in the upcoming T20I and ODI series against them. Jacobs and Neesham are also part of the T20I squad for India's visit.
Lister was part of the ODI and T20I squad that toured Bangladesh in April, while Ashok last represented New Zealand in the bilateral ODI series in India in January.
Sean Solia is another international set to play the anticipated club encounter, having represented Samoa in 12 T20Is after switching from New Zealand last year.
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