James Marshall named captain of New Zealand A

James Marshall will lead New Zealand A during the four-country emerging players tournament in Queensland in July. The 14-player squad may grow after the World Cup, when another player could be added, and it includes Iain O'Brien, the fast bowler who last played for New Zealand in 2005.

Jesse Ryder and Craig Cumming were unavailable for the tour, which includes seven one-day games and two Twenty20 matches. The national selectors hope it will be used to prepare for the Twenty20 world championships in South Africa in September.

"A number of new players have been included in this year's team as a result of their domestic performances," Glenn Turner, the national men's selector, said. "We hope that this competition will test and challenge them at the next level."

Turner said the team would spend three weeks in Darwin preparing for the series in Brisbane and Maroochydore. Squads from Australia, India and South Africa will also take part in the tournament.

New Zealand A squad James Marshall (capt), Neil Broom, Grant Elliott, Gareth Hopkins (wk), Jamie How, Nathan McCullum, James McMillan, Warren McSkimming, Rob Nicol, Iain O'Brien, Mark Orchard, Michael Papps, Aaron Redmond, Bradley Scott.