Fast bowler Matt Henry will make his much-awaited return in the upcoming five-match T20I series against Pakistan, two months after being ruled out with a hamstring injury midway through the World Cup in India. Henry will put his body to the test at the Super Smash tournament this Friday (January 5) when he plays for the Canterbury Kings before joining the national team next week.
Also, in the 13-man squad, the captain is Kane Williamson. The veteran batsman was originally scheduled to play the T20Is against Bangladesh, returning to the format in which he last played in November 2022. However, he was later withdrawn from this series as a precaution to manage his workload. Per a curated agreement, he will sit out the third T20I (in Dunedin), where Mitchell Santner will take over the captaincy duties, reports Live Cricket Score.
The Black Caps will also welcome opener Devon Conway, who was rested for the Bangladesh series. At the same time, Lockie Ferguson will return for the series’ final three games after being sidelined with an Achilles tendon injury. 25-year-old fast bowler Ben Sears will only be available for the first two games before making way for Ferguson’s return.
Kyle Jamieson will continue to miss as he is recovering from a hamstring injury, while Michael Bracewell is still recovering from an Achilles tendon injury. Also missing from the team are Trent Boult and James Neesham, who have commitments in the T20 circuit.
English