Blacks Caps set to play two keepers in Twenty/20 world cup

The Black Caps are set to play both wicketkeepers in the inaugural Twetny-20 world cup starting in South Africa next week.

Brendon McCullum will open the batting and field while Gareth Hopkins will take the gloves in the two build up matches against Australia on Sunday and the West Indies on Monday.

Coach John Bracewell says Hopkins is an effective hitter at the end of an innings and it also provides a chance to improve the side’s wicketkeeping depth.

All rounder Jacob Oram will bat at three.The Black Caps first match of the tournament is against Kenya on Thursday.Meanwhile Austrailan captain Ricky Ponting will join the Australia side in South Africa after his wife Rhianna’s health improved.

Ponting had been in doubt for the tournament after staying home when the team left on Monday because of a “private family issue” which he later revealed as an unspecified health issue surrounding his wife.