New Zealand include O'Rourke, Sears for Afghanistan, Sri Lanka tests | | Bracewell returns

Tests in Afghanistan and Sri Lanka are scheduled for Sears and O'Rourke; Bracewell returns

Will O'Rourke and Ben Sears, two of the BLACKCAPS' pace bowlers, will play their maiden Tests abroad, and Michael Bracewell, who hasn't played a Test in eighteen months, is back in the team.

The three are part of a 15-person touring party that will play two ICC World Test Championship matches in Sri Lanka beginning on September 18 and 26, respectively, and then play a one-off Test against Afghanistan in Noida from September 9–13.

The team includes right-arm off-spinners Bracewell and Glenn Phillips, along with five spin alternatives in left-armers Mitchell Santner, Ajaz Patel, and Rachin Ravindra.

Devon Conway, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson, Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell will form a settled top order with Tom Blundell taking the gloves and Will Young providing the batting cover.

With three Tests slated in India in October and November, the September campaign kickstarts a hectic four months of cricket for the Test side. The international home summer will begin in New Zealand with England's arrival for the highly anticipated three-Test series.

Ahead of their final three series, the BLACKCAPS are now ranked third in the ICC WTC ladder.

In July, O'Rourke and Sears received their first national contracts after making an impression on the Test scene during the most recent home summer.

Before a groin injury kept him out of the second Test against Australia, the 23-year-old O'Rourke amassed 11 wickets in his first two Test matches, including the greatest match figures by a New Zealander on his Test debut (nine for 93 against South Africa in February).

In March, Sears made his debut in the second Test match between Australia and the BLACKCAPS at Hagley Oval. He claimed four wickets for ninety in the second innings, helping the team come within three wickets of victory on day four.

After missing the most of the previous 18 months owing to a catastrophic achilles injury, which was followed by a broken finger in February, Bracewell has returned to the Test squad.

The spin-bowling all-rounder participated in the most recent ICC T20 World Cup campaign in the West Indies before rejoining the BLACKCAPS for the white-ball tour to Pakistan in April.

In March 2023, Bracewell played his final Test match in Wellington against Sri Lanka, where he took five wickets to help the BLACKCAPS win the innings.

It was great to see Bracewell return and to have O'Rourke and Sears play in their first Test assignments abroad, according to coach Gary Stead.
"It's always fantastic when young players establish themselves as starters through ability, and I know Will and Ben are eager to take on the challenges of playing Test cricket in the subcontinent."

Michael had to demonstrate a great deal of tenacity to overcome his wounds and earn a spot back in the BLACKCAPS in all three configurations.

"His ability to take the ball away from left-handers and his all-around skills make him a great asset, especially on what we anticipate will be turning wickets in Sri Lanka and India."

New ball partner Matt Henry, who won the ANZ Player of the Series against Australia at the close of the home summer, will be joining Test skipper Tim Southee.
Stead has conceded that Southee might not play every Test match in Asia, and Tom Latham will remain vice captain.

Because of the surfaces' characteristics as well as the heat and humidity, he remarked, "Test tours to the sub-continent can ask some really tough questions of pace bowlers."

"We are aware that all of our bowling options might be required across the several Tests, even though we are keeping an open mind about the conditions.

"Tim and I have talked about this, and how the team needs to be best served during these international tours by balancing the workloads of the pace bowlers, including himself."

The BLACKCAPS, who are now ranked third on the standings after Australia and India, the finalists from the last edition, need to win both of their ICC WTC matches against Sri Lanka, according to Stead.





We are aware of how crucial the points we earn in Sri Lanka will be to our hopes of contending for a finals berth in England the following year.

"In difficult circumstances in Bangladesh last December, we won one of the two Test series, and we're eager to build on that."

"Everyone on the team is excited to put their skills to the test in the longest game on the subcontinent."

BLACKCAPS Test squad 

Tim Southee (c)

Tom Blundell (wk)

Michael Bracewell

Devon Conway

Matt Henry

Tom Latham (vc)

Daryl Mitchell

Will O’Rourke

Ajaz Patel

Glenn Phillips

Rachin Ravindra

Mitchell Santner

Ben Sears

Kane Williamson

Will Young

Since Kyle Jamieson is still recovering from a back ailment, he was not given any consideration for the team.

In addition to Luke Ronchi, Gary Stead will serve as head coach.

After serving as the team's assistant coach at the last two ICC Cricket World Cups, James Foster has returned to the BLACKCAPS as an assistant coach. Former Pakistani player and coach Saqlain Mushtaq will serve as the bowling coach for the three away Test matches.

While players residing in New Zealand are attending a camp at Lincoln University this week from August 14–16, the BLACKCAPS Test squad leaves for India on September 4.