In preparation for their upcoming three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, which begins on December 27, New Zealand selected their 13-man roster. Ace batsman Kane Williamson made his comeback to the T20I setup. Following a year-long break from the format, he will captain the team.
According to workload management, the 33-year-old and opener Devon Conway are rested in the current ODI series against Bangladesh. Trent Boult, the fast bowler, withdrew from consideration for the T20I series, while Michael Bracewell (Achilles), Lockie Ferguson (Achilles), Matt Henry (hamstring), and Henry Shipley (back) sustained injuries.
It’s wonderful to have the gang together in New Zealand to round off a hectic year that began on the road. Coach Gary Stead of New Zealand remarked, “We’ve played T20 cricket in a wide range of conditions this year and it’s been great to see a broad range of players making contributions.”
Tim Seifert, for instance, came back to the team in a particular capacity at the top of the order and added a great deal to each series he was a part of. We’ve already started to plan for the World Cup, which is scheduled for the middle of next year, including the kind of team we could require given the circumstances.
“While we’re advanced in our planning, as we saw with the one-day World Cup squad this year with the likes of Mark Chapman and Rachin Ravindra, there is certainly still time for players to come into that mix,” he said.
During the home series against India in November 2022, Kane Williamson made his T20I debut.
He returned to international cricket during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in October and November in India, following an injury sustained during the opening game of the 2023 Indian Premier League. All-rounder James Neesham, who missed the Kiwis’ previous T20I series in England in September of this year, has also rejoined the team in addition to Williamson.
New Zealand’s T20I squad: Kane Williamson (capt), Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Kyle Jamieson, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee