Source: Radio New Zealand
Kane Williamson celebrates a century in Hamilton against England in December 2024. PHOTOSPORT
The Black Caps welcome back the side’s all-time leading run-scorer Kane Williamson in a 14-strong squad for the first Test against West Indies starting next month.
Pace bowlers Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes and Blair Tickner have been included
Williamson has returned to the side after missing the Test series in Zimbabwe over the winter. Williamson’s last Test for New Zealand was against England in December last year, when he scored his 33rd Test century.
The former New Zealand captain retired from T20 internationals early this month. The 35 year-old skipped the ODI series against West Indies to manage his workload and focus on preparing for the upcoming Test series.
Duffy and Foulkes made their Test debuts together in Zimbabwe in August, with Foulkes claiming the best match figures by a Black Cap on Test debut of 9 for 75.
Tickner returns to the Test side for the first time since 2023 and following back-to-back player of the match performances against England in the ODI series earlier this month.
Kyle Jamieson and Glenn Phillips weren’t considered for the first Test as they work their way back from injury.
Daryl Mitchell has been selected in the Test squad, after recovering from the minor groin injury he picked up during the first ODI against the West Indies on 16 November.
Matt Fisher (shin), Will O’Rourke (back) and Ben Sears (hamstring) were not considered for selection due to injury.
Black Caps head coach Rob Walter welcomed the return of Williamson to the Test side.
“Kane’s ability on the field speaks for itself and it will be great to have his skills as well as his leadership back in the Test group,” Walter said.
“He’s had a bit of time off to get himself ready for red-ball cricket, and I know he’s looking forward to playing for Northern Districts in the second round of the Plunket Shield in the lead-up to the first Test.”
Blair Tickner. Kerry Marshall/www.photosport.nz
Walter spoke on Foulkes’ selection after his Test debut in Zimbabwe earlier in the year.
“Zak couldn’t have performed much better in his first Test against Zimbabwe. That, along with his recent form across the white-ball tours, has rightfully earned him selection.”
Walter said Duffy and Tickner were experienced campaigners and had impressed in their white-ball opportunities so far this summer and backed them to do so in the Test arena.
The first Test at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval starts on 2 December. The second Test starts at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on 10 December with the third and final Test beginning at Bay Oval in Tauranga on 18 December.
Blackcaps Test squad v West Indies
Tom Latham (c) – Canterbury
Tom Blundell (wk) – Wellington Firebirds
Michael Bracewell – Wellington Firebirds
Devon Conway – Wellington Firebirds
Jacob Duffy – Otago Volts
Rachin Ravindra – Wellington Firebirds
Zak Foulkes – Canterbury
Matt Henry – Canterbury
Daryl Mitchell – Canterbury
Mitchell Santner – Northern Districts
Nathan Smith – Wellington Firebirds
Blair Tickner – Central Districts
Kane Williamson – Northern Districts
Will Young – Central Districts
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
