The runners-up of both the last fifty-over and twenty-over World Cups, New Zealand will be playing a full-strength squad in a long time as they take on the West Indies. They have named a 15-member squad for the tour, comprising three T20Is and three ODIs starting from August 10, with six of their senior players returning to the side.
Captain Kane Williamson, Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Devon Conway were rested following the Test series against England. Tom Latham returned home after leading the team in Ireland ODIs, while Matt Henry also left the squad due to County cricket commitments.
All of the six players are back in the side as New Zealand prepare for the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia, set to begin in October. The Black Caps will play three T20Is in Jamaica from August 10, followed by three ODIs in Barbados as a part of the CWC Super League.
Williamson, in particular, hasn’t played much white-ball cricket due to injuries and other factors. His last T20I appearance was the final of the 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE, which the Kiwis lost to Australia. The captain last played an ODI way back in March 2020, incidentally the last men’s international match before the COVID-19 pandemic put a halt on sports.
“For Kane, Trent, Tim and Devon, this will be the first time they have played white-ball cricket for New Zealand since last year’s T20 World Cup and tour to India – so this trip will be important for them,”
said head coach Gary Stead.
The return of senior pros means the fringe players such as Henry Nicholls, Dane Cleaver, Will Young, Ben Sears, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Michael Rippon, and Blair Tickner will miss out. These players have been a part of New Zealand’s ongoing white-ball tour of Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands.
Finn Allen and Michael Bracewell have retained their places in the side. Fast bowler Adam Milne, who was included in the squad for the Europe tour, had suffered an injury on the tour and hasn’t been picked for the Windies tour.
The Black Caps are currently in Scotland for two T20Is, set to be played on July 27 and 29, followed by an ODI on July 31. They will then play two T20Is against the Netherlands on August 4 and 5.
