Kane Williamson and Michael Bracewell have opted out of New Zealand’s upcoming two-match Test series against Zimbabwe. On Monday, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) announced a 15-member squad, which will be led by Tom Latham.
Williamson, who doesn’t hold a central contract, remains on a casual playing agreement with NZC. With the series not part of the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) cycle—and having already signed deals with Middlesex (T20 Blast) and London Spirit (The Hundred)—the former skipper has chosen to prioritise franchise commitments.
All-rounder Michael Bracewell has also made himself unavailable, having been picked up by Southern Brave for $450,000 in The Hundred earlier this year.
New Zealand head coach Rob Walter said the decisions were made transparently during the contracting process.
“Kane and Michael were upfront with New Zealand Cricket about their availability for this tour,” Walter said.
“While all Test matches are special and important, the fact that these are not part of the WTC did play a role in the discussions.”
X-factor Fisher ready for Test cricket
Pace duo Kyle Jamieson and Ben Sears are also unavailable—Jamieson is on paternity leave, while Sears is recovering from injury. Matt Henry will lead a relatively inexperienced pace attack that includes two uncapped bowlers- Matt Fisher and Jacob Duffy—as well as Nathan Smith, who has played just two Tests.
“Matt’s someone we’re really excited about,” Walter added. “He’s one of the fastest bowlers in the country, and we believe he brings an X-factor. We’re fortunate to have a strong pool of fast bowlers, and this tour will be a great opportunity for Matt to gain experience and get a taste of the Black Caps environment.”
Henry Nicholls returns to the Test side for the first time since 2023, earning his place on the back of strong domestic form. Meanwhile, left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel is back in the squad in place of Bracewell, despite missing out on a central contract for the 2025/26 season.
The two-Test series begins on 30 July in Bulawayo.
NZ Test squad: Tom Latham (capt), Tom Blundell (wk), Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Fisher, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Will O’Rourke, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith, Will Young
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