On Tuesday, October 22, New Zealand announced their 15-member squad for the upcoming white-ball tour of Sri Lanka. The Black Caps will compete in two T20Is and three ODIs from November 9 to 19.
The same squad will be used for both formats, with spin-bowling all-rounder Mitchell Santner as the interim captain. The Kiwis aim to finalize their permanent white-ball skipper during the home summer.
Bowling all-rounder Nathan Smith and wicketkeeper-batter Mitch Hay have received their first call-ups to the national team due to their strong domestic performances over the past year.
New Zealand selector Sam Wells praised the two players on their first call-ups in a statement to nzc.nz:
“It’s a special moment for any player to be selected for the BLACKCAPS for the first time. Nathan and Mitch have demanded selection through weight of performance and I am sure they will be looking forward to showcasing their skills on the international stage.”
He added:
“Nathan’s led the Wellington attack with distinction for a number of year across all three formats and we are excited about his potential with the bat.”
“Mitch has been one of the standout domestic players over the past few seasons and brings all-round ability with the both bat and gloves. He’s a very organised batsman and has displayed good power in the white ball formats.”
In addition to Santner, New Zealand’s spin department will include Michael Bracewell, Glenn Phillips, and the most seasoned player in the squad, Ish Sodhi. Lockie Ferguson will lead the pace attack, supported by Jacob Duffy and Zak Foulkes.
Wells emphasized the need to assess depth during the Sri Lanka tour, stating:
“This tour is the beginning of the build-up towards the ICC Champions Trophy in February 2025 and we also have an eye towards the 2027 one-day Cricket World Cup.”
“Building depth is of critical important due to the demands of the international schedule and the need to peak for pinnacle events. For that reason it’s particularly exciting to include a number of players that we believe represent the future of the Blackcaps.”
New Zealand has not played any ODI matches this year, and their last T20I outing was the T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA, where they faced a disappointing first-round exit. Currently, they are engaged in a three-Test series in India, having won the first match by eight wickets to lead 1-0.
New Zealand ODI and T20I Squad for Sri Lanka Tour
Mitchell Santner (C), Mitch Hay (wk), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Henry Nicholls, Josh Clarkson, Lockie Ferguson, Zak Foulkes, Dean Foxcroft, Glenn Phillips, Jacob Duffy, Tim Robinson, Nathan Smith, Ish Sodhi, Will Young.
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