Joe Denly ruled out of England's T20 clash against New Zealand

England's Joe Denly has been ruled out of side's upcoming T20 clash against New Zealand after he picked up an ankle injury in Christchurch during training. Joe Denly has played just ten T20I and has scored 92 runs for England in shortest format of game. Reports suggest that with Joe Denly's injury, one of Somerset debutants Tom Banton or Lewis Gregory might get ir first international cap, replacing injured Joe Denly. England will face New Zealand in a five-match T20 series commencing from vember 1. 

READ | Harsha Bhogle Taken Aback By Glenn Maxwell's Break; Highlights Stress

Tim Soue to lead Kiwis

Paceman Tim Soue will lead New Zealand in five-match T20 series, with regular captain Kane Williamson sidelined by a hip injury. It begins an intense year of T20 World Cup preparation for Black Caps, who are ranked six in shortest form of game, four places below England. y will play T20 series against England, Australia, India, West Indies, Bangladesh and Ireland before World Cup. England are also using tournament as a launching pad for ir T20 World Cup preparations, resting key players in hope of building depth in ir squad. Proven performers Jason Roy, Joe Root, Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes, and Moeen Ali have been rested after a draining spell that included one-day World Cup and Ashes Test series against Australia.

Instead, likes of Tom Banton, Lewis Gregory, Pat Brown, Saqib Mahmood, and Matt Parkinson have been asked to step up and challenge for a place at next year's tournament. Bairstow will also have a point to prove after being left out of squad for two Tests against New Zealand that will follow T20s. Selector Ed Smith has confirmed England hierarchy will be watching Bairstow closely with a view to eventually returning him to Test arena.

READ | "Come Back Stronger" Resound Fans In Response To Glen Maxwell's Break

Squads

New Zealand: Tim Soue (capt), Trent Boult (games 4 and 5), Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson (games 1-3), Martin Guptill, Scott Kuggeleijn, Daryl Mitchell, Colin Munro, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Ross Taylor, Blair Tickner.

England: Eoin Morgan (capt), Jonny Bairstow, Tom Banton, Sam Billings, Pat Brown, Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Joe Denly, Lewis Gregory, Chris Jordan, Saqib Mahmood, Dawid Malan, Matt Parkinson, Adil Rashid, James Vince. 

READ | Smriti Mandhana Reveals Her Relaxing rapy At Home Post Injury Break

READ | Phil Simmons Believes Consistency Is Windies' Key To Tackle Afghan