Black Caps opener Colin Munro wants to play white ball cricket only from now on.

Colin Munro's decision to shelve red ball cricket came down to one factor – being at his absolute best for the 2019 Cricket World Cup.

The explosive Black Caps Twenty20 and one-day opener will sit out the rest of the Plunket Shield four-day season and was unavailable for the New Zealand XI squads named on Friday to face England.

After missing selection for the 2015 World Cup, which was co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, the 30-year-old wanted to do everything in his power to gain selection for next year's event and be at the top of his game.

STU FORSTER/GETTY IMAGES The chance to be at his best for the Cricket World Cup weighed heavily on Colin Munro's decision to quit test cricket.

Munro has had his moments as a limited overs opener, especially in T20s, since being trialled there during October's tour of India. He has opened 15 times in ODIs, hitting three 50s, while also getting out for 49 twice.



READ MORE:

* Taylor picks up county contract

* Taylor turns it on chasing

* Taylor v Guptill: The verdict

* Black Caps' fielding concerns



His choice was partly based on a dip in passion for long-form cricket and some recent injury niggles, which had made it difficult to bowl long spells with his gentle medium pacers.

The World Cup was the No 1 motivator and Munro was desperate to make an impact in England at the tournament, which runs from next May-July.

"The World Cup, for me, that's the target. I missed out on the last World Cup and you saw how the boys loved it and went that far.

"So it's something I'm very passionate about and want to hone my skills on fully developing. I've done okay at the top of the order, but I haven't quite nailed it."

Munro made his one and only test appearance against South Africa in Port Elizabeth in 2013, notching 0 and 15 batting at seven.

He averages an impressive 51.58 from 48 first-class matches and remained a contender for the No 5 test spot, but has decided better opportunities lie in white ball internationals and T20 franchise cricket.

Munro was disappointed he didn't get greater test opportunities when he had done well domestically for Auckland, but said other middle order batsmen had seized their chances.

"I think I'd be lying if I didn't say I wanted to play more test cricket in that time, but if you look at the way the guys did and the guys that have come in and made a real go of it."

He follows England duo Alex Hales and Adil Rashid who recently announced their focus on white ball cricket only.

Munro contemplated the idea after the Indian tour and said New Zealand Cricket were supportive. He spoke to his mentor, former New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum, who advised him to do what was best for himself and his family.

Being unavailable for tests shouldn't impact his spot on the NZC contract list too much, he believed.

"I think this is the best choice moving forward.

"This is the decision I want to make for myself. It's not anything else, besides what I think will benefit my career in the long term."

Munro won't play in the Pakistan Super League T20 this year and will concentrate on rest and rehabilitation for the remainder of the New Zealand summer. After the England series, the Black Caps' next scheduled international assignment isn't until November when they face Pakistan.



Meanwhile, two New Zealand XI sides have been named to take on England in a pair of warmup matches in Hamilton next week; one with a red ball and one with a pink ball, ahead of the country's first day-night test in Auckland starting on March 22.



The fixtures will be played on March 14-15 and 16-17 and will remove some key players from their Plunket Shield sides early next week.

AT A GLANCE

New Zealand XI (two-day pink ball match): Tom Latham (captain), Jeet Raval, George Worker, Henry Nicholls, Tom Blundell, Mitchell Santner, Colin de Grandhomme, Scott Kuggeleijn, Seth Rance, Ish Sodhi, Kyle Jamieson, Nathan Smith.

NZ XI (two-day red ball match): Martin Guptill (captain), Worker, Glenn Phillips, Ross Taylor, Mark Chapman, Blundell, Tim Seifert, Kuggeleijn, Doug Bracewell, Logan van Beek, Rance, Sodhi.