New Zealand Cricket (NZC) have announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming T20I Tri-Series involving Zimbabwe and South Africa. Notably, experienced batters Kane Williamson and Devon Conway have not been included.
The squad sees the return of several familiar faces, including Finn Allen, Matt Henry, Adam Milne, Tim Seifert, and Ish Sodhi. Their comebacks bolster the side with power-hitting and pace options ahead of a competitive tour.
Williamson, having opted out of a central contract, is currently playing in the UK for Middlesex and the London Spirit. The former captain has made himself unavailable for the T20Is and is also likely to skip the Test series in Zimbabwe.
Conway was not considered for selection, while Henry makes his return after recovering from a shoulder injury suffered during the Champions Trophy. He has proven his fitness with Somerset in England’s domestic circuit.
Seifert returns as a wicketkeeping option, replacing Mitch Hay, who recently earned his first central contract but misses out this time around. Milne and Allen have been rewarded for their strong performances in franchise leagues.
Young power-hitter Bevon Jacobs is the only uncapped player in the squad. The promising batter had been included in the squad for the home series against Sri Lanka earlier in the year but did not get a game. He now stands a strong chance of making his debut in Zimbabwe.
This will be Rob Walter’s first assignment as full time head coach.
New Zealand Squad for T20I Tri-Series:
Mitchell Santner (captain), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Bevon Jacobs, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi.