Mitchell Santner and Rachin Ravindra are back in the New Zealand squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against England, kicking off in Christchurch on Saturday, October 18. While Santner will take over the reins after recovering from abdominal surgery, Ravindra has healed from the facial injury that kept him out of the recent series against Australia. The allrounder had collided with the advertising hoardings during fielding practice at Bay Oval in the lead-up to the first T20I.
Squad: Mitchell Santner (C), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Bevon Jacobs, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Robinson, Tim Seifert (wk)
Ben Sears, who suffered a left-hamstring injury at training last week, will sit out the series. As will Kane Williamson, but he is expected to be available for the three-match ODI series lying next.
“Kane had to overcome a minor medical issue in the past month, and we agreed he needs some more time to get himself physically ready to return,” head coach Rob Walter informed. “He’s obviously a world class player and we’re hoping these two weeks will ensure he’s ready for the ODIs against England and the following tour by West Indies.”
New Zealand have retained the better part of the squad that faced Australia, with Jimmy Neesham managing to hold onto his place after an impressive showing as Ravindra’s replacement in that series. He particularly made a splash in the third T20I in Mount Maunganui where he scythed through Australia’s middle order with figures of 4/26. Neesham, who turned 35 last month, has aspirations of playing for New Zealand in the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. Leg-spinner Ish Sodhi, however, has been dropped.
Finn Allen (foot), Adam Milne (ankle), Will O’Rourke (back), Glenn Phillips (groin) and Lockie Ferguson (hamstring) were all deemed unavailable for selection.
