Smith & Hay earn maiden call-ups | Santner to lead against Sri Lanka

A promising all-rounder and a young wicketkeeper-batsman have been called up by the BLACKCAPS for their white-ball tour of Sri Lanka next month.

Both Canterbury wicketkeeper-batsman Mitch Hay and Wellington Firebirds bowling-all-rounder Nathan Smith have earned their first BLACKCAPS calls, joining a 15-man squad captained by Mitchell Santner for three ODIs and two T20Is beginning in Dambulla on November 9.

Santner has been selected the tour's interim captain; the long-term ODI and T20I captains will be decided upon throughout the summer in New Zealand.

After winning NZC's Men's Domestic Player of the Year at the ANZ New Zealand Cricket Awards in March and landing his first central BLACKCAPS contract last month, Smith's first call-up caps off an incredible 12 months for the 25-year-old. 

Last summer, Smith took 24 wickets for the Firebirds in both white-ball competitions, including a career-high 4-5 T20 total against the Otago Volts in Alexandra during the Dream11 Super Smash.

The 24-year-old Hay made his New Zealand A debut last year and has been a reliable player in all three forms in recent seasons. In April, he was named Canterbury's male Player of the Year.

The two join a new-look BLACKCAPS team that includes a number of seasoned internationals as well as some up-and-coming players who have made their debuts for their country in the last two years.

Lockie Ferguson will lead a squad of fast bowlers that includes all-rounders Smith and Josh Clarkson, as well as Duffy and Zak Foulkes of Canterbury.

Along with Clarkson, who made an impression in the ODIs against Bangladesh last summer, powerful Wellington Firebirds opener Tim Robinson receives his second call-up after performing admirably on his first international trip to Pakistan in April.

With 117 matches, leg-spinner Ish Sodhi is the team's most seasoned T20I player.

Along with Santner, Michael Bracewell and Glenn Phillips are all-round spin bowlers, and Dean Foxcroft provides some off-spin in addition to his specialized hitting abilities.

 The batting is strengthened by the experience of Phillips, Will Young, and Henry Nicholls. Nicholls just finished an outstanding Ford Trophy campaign last summer, scoring 301 runs at 75.25 in six games.

 At the end of the third Test match against India in Mumbai, six members of the current BLACKCAPS Test team in India will immediately move to Sri Lanka.

 After returning home from India this week to give birth to his second child, Bracewell will join the white-ball team from New Zealand.

They prioritized the forthcoming three-Test series against England, which begins in Christchurch on November 28, and did not consider Tom Blundell, Devon Conway, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will O'Rourke, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Southee, and Kane Williamson for selection.

Sam Wells, a BLACKCAPS selector, stated that the squad's balance of youth and experience represented the preparation for future ICC competitions.

"We have an eye towards the 2027 one-day Cricket World Cup, and this tour is the start of the build-up to the ICC Champions Trophy in February 2025," he stated.

Because of the pressures of the international calendar and the requirement to peak for apex tournaments, building depth is crucial.

It's especially thrilling to include some players who, in our opinion, embody the BLACKCAPS' future because of this.

Hay and Smith were congratulated by Wells on their first call-ups.

"Being selected for the BLACKCAPS for the first time is a special moment for any player," he stated.

"Mitch and Nathan have insisted on being chosen based on their performance, and I have no doubt that they will be eager to demonstrate their abilities on a global scale."

Smith, according to Wells, was a gifted all-round bowler and a top athlete in his area.  

We are enthusiastic about Nathan's batting potential because he has led the Wellington attack with distinction for several years in all three formats.

According to Wells, the selectors thought Hay had a bright future.

"Mitch brings all-around ability with both bat and gloves, and he has been one of the most impressive domestic players in recent seasons." 

"He has shown good power in the white ball formats and is a very organized batsman."

Sri Lanka T20I & ODI series | BLACKCAPS team

Mitchell Santner (c) (Northern Districts)

Michael Bracewell (Wellington Firebirds)

Mark Chapman (Auckland Aces)

Josh Clarkson (Central Stags)

Jacob Duffy (Otago Volts)

Lockie Ferguson (Auckland Aces)

Zak Foulkes (Canterbury)

Dean Foxcroft (Otago Volts)

Mitch Hay* (wk) (Canterbury)

Henry Nicholls (Canterbury)

Glenn Phillips (Otago Volts)

Tim Robinson (Wellington Firebirds)

Nathan Smith* (Wellington Firebirds)

Ish Sodhi (Canterbury)

Will Young (Central Stags)

*Potential international debut

 

Due to injury, Kyle Jamieson (back), Adi Ashok (back), Ben Sears (knee), and Ben Lister (side strain) were not selected.

Because he and his wife are expecting twins in early December, Canterbury spinner Cole McConchie declared himself unavailable for selection.

The coaching staff will be led by bowling coach Jacob Oram and head coach Gary Stead.

While full-time batting coach Luke Ronchi returns home to concentrate on the beginning of the New Zealand home summer, former England international James Foster will rejoin the team as batting coach.

On November 4, the players from New Zealand leave for Sri Lanka in preparation for the first Twenty20 International in Dambulla on November 9.

Schedule for Sri Lanka vs. Blackcaps

Saturday 9th November - 1st T20I – Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium, Dambulla

Sunday 10th November - 2nd T20I - Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium, Dambulla

 

Wednesday 13th November - 1st ODI - Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium, Dambulla

Sunday 17th November - 2nd ODI – Pallekelle International Cricket Stadium, Kandy

Tuesday 19th November - 3rd ODI - Pallekelle International Cricket Stadium, Kandy