New Zealand have split their squad for the five-match ODI series against India to manage their Test preparations and assess their options ahead of the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, head coach Rob Walter has said.
The series begins on November 4, with several Test specialists set to leave after the first three ODIs to prepare for the two-Test series against India. The first Test will begin at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on November 19.
Only six players have been named for all five ODIs: captain Mitchell Santner, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Will Young and Blair Tickner. The other players will either leave the squad after the third match or join for the final two games.
“Obviously every Test match is important for us in terms of championship points, which is why we’re extracting some of that squad early for additional preparation before the first Test against India at the Basin Reserve on November 19,” Walter said.
The changes will also give New Zealand a chance to test their squad depth against India, with seven players joining for the final two ODIs.
WORLD CUP PREPARATIONS BEHIND SQUAD CHANGES
With the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia less than a year away, New Zealand see the series as an important chance to test their combinations and assess players ahead of the tournament.
“First and foremost this is huge series for us, playing in front of our fans in full stadiums against a formidable Indian side,” Walter said.
“With the ODI World Cup just one year away it’s important for us to also view these matches as valuable preparation for that event.”
Walter said the final two matches would help New Zealand assess players who are not part of the first-choice group.
“Bringing in seven players for the final ODIs allows us to test our depth and see how those players fare against a world-class side,” he said.
Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra and Nathan Smith will play the first three ODIs before leaving to prepare for the Tests.
Finn Allen, Kristian Clarke, Matt Fisher, Lockie Ferguson, Mitch Hay, Nick Kelly and Tim Seifert will join the squad for the fourth and fifth matches.
FINN ALLEN COULD BAT IN THE MIDDLE ORDER
Allen’s return is one of the main talking points in New Zealand’s squad. The team want to see whether the explosive batter can make an impact in the middle order in 50-over cricket.
Allen usually opens the batting in T20 cricket. However, New Zealand are considering using him against spinners and the fifth or sixth bowler during the middle overs.
“We’ve got a different role in mind for Finn in the middle order. So we want to explore that as an option, obviously given his capability to influence the game,” Walter said during a virtual media interaction.
“In 50-over cricket, there’s a space in the middle of the game to take on the spinners or the fifth or sixth bowler. So, we’ll explore that with Finn.”
Walter said the idea had been discussed for some time and was not a response to the recent trend of high-scoring matches.
“We actually want to see what it looks like to have someone in the middle order just taking on the game,” he said.
“There’s a shift in 50-over cricket, especially if the surfaces are good, where overs 25 to 40 become pretty important, whilst there’s an extra fielder in the ring.”
Walter added that the idea of moving Allen down the order had also come up during the last T20 World Cup. The batter is open to the change, and the India series will give New Zealand a chance to see how he handles the role.
ALLEN, FERGUSON AND SEIFERT RETURN
Allen, Lockie Ferguson and Tim Seifert are returning to New Zealand’s ODI setup for the final two matches.Allen and Ferguson last played an ODI in 2023. Ferguson’s previous appearance came in the World Cup semi-final against India in Mumbai. Seifert last played an ODI during New Zealand’s home series against Pakistan around 18 months ago.
Walter said their return would give New Zealand more options in the squad. “We’re incredibly lucky to have the depth that we do to have 21 players involved in the series,” he said.
“It’s also great to bring guys like Lockie, Finn, and Tim back into the one day unit. They’re all exciting and explosive players in their own right and are proven match winners.”
“For Finn and Tim in particular, we’ve seen what they can do in the T20 arena, and it’s now a great opportunity for them to push their case in the longer format,” he added.
Rachin Ravindra will return for the first three ODIs after recovering from a shoulder injury that ruled him out of New Zealand’s T20I squad.
New Zealand will also look to build on their 2-1 ODI series win in India earlier this year. It was their first bilateral ODI series victory on Indian soil.
FAST-BOWLING WORKLOAD A PRIORITY
New Zealand are also being careful with their fast bowlers as they prepare for a busy international schedule, including a Test series against Australia.
Will O’Rourke is recovering from a lower-back injury sustained in England. A calf problem delayed his return to bowling, but Walter said the setback was not a major concern.
“The injury is sort of recovered and we’re pretty happy with that, but there’s obviously just a real safe loading pattern for him to get into to be ready for Test match cricket,” Walter said.
“We want to pay respect to that and also pay respect to the injury that he came from, from a lower-back point of view.”
New Zealand hope O’Rourke will be available for the Test series against Australia.
Ben Sears is recovering from ankle surgery and is expected to start running within the next one to two weeks. He will need to build up gradually before returning to bowling.
O’Rourke and Sears, along with Zak Foulkes, who is recovering from a hip flexor injury, were unavailable for the India ODI series.
WHEN WILL NEW ZEALAND ANNOUNCE THEIR TEST SQUAD?
New Zealand will play India in a five-match T20I series before the ODI fixtures. The two-Test series will follow, with the first match in Wellington from November 19 to 23 and the second in Christchurch from November 27 to December 1.
The selectors are expected to announce the Test squad in early November.
The split ODI squad will allow New Zealand to give their Test players more time to prepare while assessing other options in the final two matches. The series will also give players a chance to make their case for a place in the plans for the 2027 World Cup.
NEW ZEALAND ODI SQUADS FOR INDIA SERIES
FIRST THREE ODIs: Mitchell Santner (captain), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham (wicketkeeper), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner and Will Young.
FOURTH AND FIFTH ODIs: Mitchell Santner (captain), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Kristian Clarke, Jacob Duffy, Matt Fisher, Lockie Ferguson, Mitch Hay (wicketkeeper), Nick Kelly, Tim Seifert (wicketkeeper), Blair Tickner and Will Young.
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