From the team that competed in the World Cup final in the UAE last year, New Zealand has made three changes to the roster for the ICC T20 World Cup in Australia next month. Lockie Ferguson, Michael Bracewell, and Finn Allen have replaced Kyle Jamieson, Todd Astle, and Tim Seifert.
Trent Boult and Jimmy Neesham, two players who recently declined the New Zealand Cricket (NZC) central contract, as well as Finn Allen, one of the most recent players to secure a central contract, all find a place in the team.
Kane Williamson, a batting legend who will lead the team for the third time at the T20 World Cup, will skipper the team once more.
The pace attack for New Zealand is led by Boult, Ferguson, Tim Southee, and Adam Milne. Bracewell and Mitchell Santner will assist Ish Sodhi as he leads the spin onslaught.
Bracewell made his New Zealand debut in 2022, but he rapidly established himself as a crucial component of the machine. He has produced a string of solid bat performances, and as a result, he has earned a spot in the team for the major competition.
Due to their versatility with both the bat and the ball, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Santner, Bracewell, and Neesham offer the team balance.
After donning the gloves in the UAE last year and the most recent series against the West Indies, Devon Conway has been designated the front-line wicket-keeper.
Jamieson, who was a member of the World Cup squad from the previous year, as well as Todd Astle and Tim Seifert, were not selected since they are still recovering from back injuries.
The T20 Tri Series between New Zealand, Pakistan, and Bangladesh will begin on October 7 in Christchurch. The Tri Series will provide fans their final opportunity to witness the team before they fly for Australia on October 15 with seven games spread over eight days at Hagley Oval.
The announcement of a World Cup selection is always exciting, and New Zealand coach Gary Stead congratulated the 15 players who were chosen today.
The first ICC events for Finn and Michael are particularly thrilling, and Martin Guptill is gearing up for his eighth T20 World Cup, which is already an amazing feat. It's wonderful to have this competition so soon after the one from the previous year, when we played some excellent cricket but ultimately fell short of the finish line.
We should enter the competition with a lot of excitement because the core of that team was retained and Finn and Michael are interesting additions.
According to Stead, the Tri Series should offer excellent World Cup training.
"Those matches will be a terrific opportunity to polish our combinations and game-plans before our departure to Australia, in addition to the crucial game time."
On October 22, New Zealand plays Australia in the T20 World Cup opener at the SCG. They then play Afghanistan, England, and two qualifiers at the SCG and Adelaide Oval, respectively.
Squad: Kane Williamson (c), Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Mitchell Santner, Glenn Phillips, Jimmy Neesham, Daryl Mitchell, Adam Milne, Martin Guptill, Lockie Ferguson, Devon Conway, Mark Chapman, Michael Bracewell, Trent Boult, Finn Allen.