New Zealand could be without Finn Allen for up to three of next month’s five T20s in India, depending on how Perth Scorchers fare in the Big Bash League finals.
The series begins on 21 January in Nagpur and doubles as the main dress-rehearsal for June’s T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Before the T20s, the Black Caps play three ODIs from 11–17 January.
Allen’s immediate priority, though, is finishing the BBL season. The Scorchers complete their group programme at home to Melbourne Stars on 17 January. Should they reach the final, pencilled in for 25 January, the opener would not be free to join New Zealand until the fourth T20 in Hyderabad on 28 January. If the holders miss the play-offs, he is expected to link up with the national squad for the entire tour.
“Pending selection, I’ll head straight to India once the Big Bash finishes up for us [Scorchers],” Allen told ESPNcricinfo.
At 26, Allen is one of five New Zealanders on casual central contracts, an arrangement that allows short franchise stints without cutting ties to the Black Caps’ high-performance set-up. The balance still leans towards the fern on his chest.
“Playing for New Zealand is still, for me, the pinnacle and the reason why I love playing is to represent my country,” he said. “But cricket’s obviously evolving and changing year on year.”
He added: “New Zealand Cricket’s been really good to work with over the last wee while. [I’m] confident about getting back into some Black Caps stuff after the Big Bash and hopefully can continue that.”
Allen’s return will also mark his first competitive cricket since a stress fracture of the foot ended a spectacular Major League Cricket debut in July. That night he belted 151, including a T20-record 19 sixes, for San Francisco Unicorns against Washington Freedom at the Oakland Coliseum.
Before injury struck he had last featured for New Zealand in March, hammering 27 from 12 balls in an eight-wicket win over Pakistan in Wellington. If the Scorchers’ title defence runs deep, the Black Caps will hope his wait for another international knock does not extend much further.
