'Front man': Santner on Jacob Duffy ahead of WI ODIs

'Front man': Santner on Jacob Duffy ahead of WI ODIs

New Zealand's ODI series against the West Indies, which gets underway on Sunday, will see Jacob Duffy leading the pace attack, as per Mitchell Santner.

The decision comes after several first-choice quicks were ruled out due to injuries and workload management.

Santner believes Duffy has earned this opportunity and that Duffy is excited to take on the role of "front man" in a bowling group with a mix of experienced and younger players.

Managing bowlers' workloads

Duffy returns to the squad after missing New Zealand's recent Test tour of England on paternity leave.

He will be joined by Nathan Smith, Kristian Clarke, uncapped Matt Fisher, and Ben Lister (who replaced Ben Sears).

"We've obviously seen how good he is for the last few years. He's taken his opportunities, but now he's the front man in this bowling unit. There are a couple of younger guys around him, so he's going to be the main man here," Santner said ahead of the opener.

He also emphasized the importance of managing bowlers' workloads during the ODI series due to potentially challenging conditions in Guyana.