Kyle Jamieson returns to Black Caps squad

Kyle Jamieson in action in England
Photo:

Two potential debutants have been named in the Black Caps squad for next month’s T20 tours of the UAE and England, alongside returning pace-bowling star Kyle Jamieson.

Otago batting all-rounder Dean Foxcroft and 20-year-old Auckland leg-spinner Adi Ashok have earned their maiden call-ups off the back of representing New Zealand A and impressive domestic form.

Jamieson is set to return to international cricket more than a year after sustaining a serious back injury in England last June.

Born in South Africa, Foxcroft moved to New Zealand in 2016 and is a newly qualified player, having recently received eligibility approval from the ICC under its “exceptional circumstances” criteria.

The 25-year-old was crowned NZC’s Domestic Player of the Year at the annual awards in March after dominating the men’s Super Smash, where he finished as the leading runs-scorer (424) and also claimed nine wickets with the ball at an impressive economy rate of less than seven runs per over.

Ashok, a former New Zealand Under-19 rep, was a consistent performer for the Aces in the Super Smash, claiming seven wickets and producing match-turning spells.

Jamieson’s return is major milestone for the ICC World Test Championship 2021 Player of the Final, who was forced to undergo surgery in February after a stress-fracture was discovered in his back ahead of the home Test series against England.

Dean Foxcroft
Photo: Photosport

The three players have been included in a somewhat fresh looking 15-strong squad for the three T20Is in Dubai on August 17, 19 and 20.

The tour party, which will be captained by Tim Southee, will expand to 22 players in England – with Finn Allen, Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Glenn Phillips, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell and Ish Sodhi joining post-The Hundred and ahead of the first T20I in Durham on August 30.

Ashok, Chad Bowes, Dane Cleaver, Foxcroft, Cole McConchie, Henry Shipley and Will Young will be replaced by the incoming players expected to join pre or post the two warm-up games scheduled for August 25 and 27 in Worcester and Bristol.

Jimmy Neesham and Mitchell Santner have also secured short term deals to play in the final games of The Hundred competition which fall between the UAE and England T20I series.

Tim Seifert’s Player of the T20 Series efforts against Sri Lanka at the end of the New Zealand home summer have seen him rewarded with his selection for both tours along with Rachin Ravindra and Mark Chapman, both of whom impressed against Sri Lanka and on the away tour to Pakistan in April-May.

Black Caps T20 Squad for UAE and England

Tim Southee (c)

Finn Allen (Eng)

Adi Ashok (UAE)

Chad Bowes (UAE)

Mark Chapman

Dane Cleaver (UAE)

Devon Conway (Eng)

Lockie Ferguson

Dean Foxcroft (UAE)

Matt Henry (Eng)

Kyle Jamieson

Cole McConchie (UAE)

Adam Milne (Eng)

Daryl Mitchell (Eng)

Jimmy Neesham

Glenn Phillips (Eng)

Rachin Ravindra

Mitchell Santner

Tim Seifert

Henry Shipley (UAE)

Ish Sodhi (Eng)

Will Young (UAE)

*The players selected for the UAE series only will also travel to England for the T20 warm-ups.

Kane Williamson (knee) and Michael Bracewell (achilles) were not considered for selection due to injury.

Black Caps T20 Tour Schedule

Aug 17 – 1st T20I v UAE – Dubai

Aug 19 – 2nd T20I v UAE – Dubai

Aug 20 – 3rd T20I v UAE – Dubai

Aug 25 – warm-up T20 – Worcester

Aug 27 – warm-up T20 – Bristol

Aug 30 – 1st T20I v England – Durham

Sept 1 – 2nd T20I v England – Manchester

Sept 3 – 3rd T20I v England – Birmingham

Sept 5 – 4th T20I v England – Nottingham