AUCKLAND: With a pace attack bolstered by the arrival of leading pacers Kyle Jamieson and Will O’Rourke, New Zealand have named their 19-man squad for the upcoming Tests against Ireland and England.
The Blackcaps will play a lone Test against Ireland in Belfast at the end of May before a three-match series to England in June.
Canterbury duo Kyle Jamieson and Will O’Rourke lead a strong group of seamers that includes Jack Foulkes, Matt Henry, Nathan Smith and Blair Tickner selected for both tours.
Michael Ray and uncapped seamer Christian Clarke have been named only for the Ireland Test, while Ben Sears has been included as a traveling reserve for the Ireland match and the England series.
Former skipper Kane Williamson has been included in the extended squad as he continues to make 9,461 runs in Tests, having last appeared in form against the West Indies in December.
Central Districts batsman Dean Foxcroft earned his maiden Test call-up following a consistent blanket shield performance and encouraging displays in New Zealand’s recent white-ball tour of Bangladesh.
Foxcroft described the selection as a “dream come true” and said she was “blown away” by the opportunity.
Sir Richard Hadlee medalist Jacob Duffy will miss the tour with the full support of New Zealand Cricket as he and his wife await the birth of their first child.
All-rounder Michael Bracewell has retired from red-ball cricket to prioritize family and white-ball commitments. He is part of New Zealand’s limited overs plans.
Daryl Mitchell is expected to be fit after recovering from a calf injury, while Tom Blundell has been named as the sole specialist wicketkeeper, with skipper Tom Latham as backup.
Mitchell Santner continues his rehabilitation from a shoulder injury and could be considered later in the series depending on his recovery.
February 2024 marked his first Test involvement with Jamieson’s return from a back injury. Since his return, he has featured in limited-overs formats, taking 80 wickets in 19 Tests at an average of 19.
O’Rourke, meanwhile, has returned from his own injury layoff and has already impressed at Test level with 39 wickets in 11 matches since his debut in 2024.
New Zealand head coach Rob Walter says the upcoming schedule presents an exciting opportunity in the World Test Championship cycle.
“Testing ourselves against some of the best Test teams in the world is an exciting challenge, and the added carrot of a fourth edition of the World Test Championship,” he said.
“I know this is something the players and staff have been looking forward to for some time and we are determined to rise to the occasion,” he added.
Blackcaps Test Team
Tom Latham (captain), Tom Blundell (weekend), Devon Conway, Zach Folks, Dean Foxcroft, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Michael Ray (Ireland, Benchers Ravindran, England tour), Test Ravindran and Test Smith, Blair Tickner, Kane Williamson, Will Young (Ireland only) and Christian Clarke (Ireland only).
Tour schedule