New Zealand announced white ball squad as Santner Leads team for Sri Lanka Tour
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| The squad, led by Mitchell Santner, will play two T20Is and three ODIs starting November 9 in Dambulla. / Getty |
The BLACKCAPS have named an exciting squad for their upcoming white-ball tour of Sri Lanka, with bowling all-rounder Nathan Smith and wicketkeeper-batsman Mitch Hay earning their first international call-ups.
The 15-member squad, led by Mitchell Santner, will play two T20 Internationals and three One-Day Internationals starting November 9 in Dambulla.
Wellington Firebirds all-rounder Smith, who had an outstanding domestic season, was named NZC’s Men’s Domestic Player of the Year in March and earned his first central contract last month. His standout performances include career-best T20 figures of 4-5 against Otago Volts in the Super Smash.
Hay, a consistent performer for Canterbury, receives his maiden call-up after being crowned Canterbury’s Player of the Year in April. The wicketkeeper-batsman has impressed across all formats and will be eager to showcase his skills on the international stage.
Santner, who has been appointed interim captain, will lead a mix of experienced internationals and rising stars, as New Zealand builds depth ahead of upcoming ICC tournaments. The squad includes key players like Lockie Ferguson, Henry Nicholls, and Glenn Phillips, while several Test regulars including Tom Latham, Kane Williamson, and Devon Conway have been rested to focus on the upcoming home series against England.
Selector Sam Wells emphasized the importance of building depth for future ICC events, particularly the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025. He praised Smith and Hay for earning their spots through strong domestic performances, describing Smith as an elite athlete and Hay as a talented batsman with good power and organization.
The BLACKCAPS depart for Sri Lanka on November 4, with the first T20I scheduled for November 9.
BLACKCAPS Squad for Sri Lanka Tour:
- Mitchell Santner (c)
- Michael Bracewell
- Mark Chapman
- Josh Clarkson
- Jacob Duffy
- Lockie Ferguson
- Zak Foulkes
- Dean Foxcroft
- Mitch Hay* (wk)
- Henry Nicholls
- Glenn Phillips
- Tim Robinson
- Nathan Smith*
- Ish Sodhi
- Will Young
*Potential debutants