Beginning on November 9, Mitchell Santner will captain New Zealand in the three ODIs and two T20Is against Sri Lanka. After the team’s unexpected defeat in the T20 World Cup group stage in June, Kane Williamson retired as captain, and this will be New Zealand’s first limited-overs series since.
As to a press declaration from New Zealand Cricket (NZC), the nation has also called up all-rounder Nathan Smith and ‘keeper-batter Mitch Hay for the first time in the 15-man the schedule.
During the home summer in New Zealand later this year, the permanent ODI and T20I captains will be chosen, with Santner serving as the series’ interim skipper.
In March, Nathan Smith was named the Domestic Player of the Year for NZC. In the domestic ODI and T20 leagues, he took 24 wickets. In the Super Smash, he achieved career-high 4 for 5 figures. Prior to this year, however, Hay, 24, was named Canterbury’s male Player of the Year.
Zak Foulkes, Jacob Duffy, and Lockie Ferguson form the pace attack, and Ish Sodhi will be the team’s most seasoned spinner. All-round spin bowlers Dean Foxcroft, Michael Bracewell, and Glenn Phillips will join with Sodhi. Lastly, the batting lineup will consist of Josh Clarkson, Tim Robinson, Phillips, Henry Nicholls, Mark Chapman, and Will Young.
To get prepared for the three-match Test series against England, eight players from the current Test series against India—Tom Blundell, Devon Conway, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Southee, and Kane Williamson—were not selected.
The entire team consists of Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Tim Robinson, Nathan Smith, Ish Sodhi, Will Young, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Zak Foulkes, Dean Foxcroft, and Mitch Hay (WK).