Kyle Jamieson, Will O'Rourke return to NZ Test squad for Ireland, England tours

Kane Williamson, who had said in December last year that he will evaluate his future on a “series-by-series” basis, has been named as part of the 19-man touring party. Williamson, 35, is currently at the IPL as Lucknow Super Giants’ strategic advisor and is 539 runs away from becoming the first New Zealand player to 10,000 Test runs.

New Zealand, however, will be without Jacob Duffy, who took 81 wickets across formats last year, toppling Sir Richard Hadlee’s record for the most by a New Zealand bowler in a calendar year. Duffy will stay back home in New Zealand as he and his wife await the birth of their first child.

“Jake has been hugely impressive and influential across all formats, but this is a far more important period of his life coming up and we’re fully supportive of him and his wife Tash,” New Zealand head coach Rob Walter said in a media statement.

Jamieson and O’Rourke will lead the seam attack, which also included Matt Henry, Zak Foulkes, Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner, Ben Sears, Michael Rae and Kristian Clarke. Rae, who made his Test debut against West Indies during the previous home summer; Clarke, who is uncapped in Test cricket, and Sears have been named in the squad for only the one-off Test against Ireland, which will run from May 27 to 30 in Belfast. This match isn’t part of the World Test Championship (WTC).

Walter: Jamieson will bring ‘unique edge’ to NZ attack

Jamieson is set to play his first Test in more than two years since suffering a back stress fracture in February 2024. He has played only white-ball cricket for the Black Caps since and his return to play in red-ball cricket, including at the Plunket Shield, has been managed carefully by the team management. He played a solitary Plunket Shield game last year, picking up five wickets in 29.3 overs for Canterbury against Central Districts in Napier.

O’Rourke, who is also working his way back into Test cricket from injury, was also not rushed back into top-flight cricket. After spending eight months on the sidelines for a back injury of his own, O’Rourke had a bit of a soft launch back into cricket with Canterbury A against Auckland A in a three-day game before putting his body through stiffer tests in three ODIs in hot conditions in Bangladesh last month.

“It’s a great privilege to start this next period of sustained red-ball cricket with all our pace bowlers ready to go,” Walter said. “Kyle’s been on a journey of getting his body ready for Test cricket. He’s really fit and strong at the moment and will bring a unique edge to our bowling line-up.

“Will brings a quality set of skills and physical attributes which make him a hugely exciting addition to any Test team.”

Walter is also excited to have tearaway Sears in the mix for the Ireland Test. The Wellington quick is set to play his first Test since his debut in March 2024, when he claimed four wickets in the final innings against Australia in Christchurch. Sears will then travel to England as a travelling reserve

“Ben brings height and good pace, and I love his aggression and whole-hearted approach to his bowling,” Walter said.

Bracewell takes a break from red-ball cricket

Offspin-bowling allrounder Michael Bracewell made himself unavailable for the Ireland and England tours after opting to step back from the longest format. The 35-year-old will instead turn his focus to white-ball cricket and time with family. Bracewell had missed the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka with a calf injury, but recently returned to action in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

Mitchell Santner, who has returned from the IPL and is currently undergoing rehab for a shoulder injury, could be added to the squad later. In the absence of Bracewell and Santner, Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra could pitch in with spin, if conditions assist slower bowlers.

Daryl Mitchell, who had suffered a calf injury during the PSL, is set to recover in time for the Ireland Test, and the England Tests that follow. Tom Blundell is the only specialist wicketkeeper in the extended squad. Captain Tom Latham can step in as a keeper, if needed.

Nicholls back, maiden Test call-up for Foxcroft

Henry Nicholls has also returned to the squad for both Test tours after scoring a chart-topping 870 runs in 11 innings in Canterbury’s run to the Plunket Shield title. Will Young, meanwhile, has been included for only the Ireland leg.

Central Districts batter Dean Foxcroft earned his maiden Test call-up after impressing in the recent white-ball tour of Bangladesh. Foxcroft, who was born in South Africa, has been a steady performer for both CD and previously for Otago in domestic cricket, aside from winning the PSL with Lahore Qalandars in the past.

Foxcroft expressed surprise at his selection. “I was blown away,” he said. “It’s quite surreal and a dream come true. From a young age you dream about playing Test cricket or even just to be in a Test squad – so I’m buzzing and I can’t wait.”

Henry, Foulkes, Jamieson, Ravindra and Phillips will all join the New Zealand side after completing their IPL stints. The IPL final is set to be played on May 31. New Zealand’s Test tour of England will begin with the first match at Lord’s from June 4. The New Zealand-based Test players will tune up at the NZC High Performance Centre at Lincoln University before departing on May 22.

The Test series against England will see the Crowe-Thorpe trophy contested for the second time after it was introduced in 2024 to honour the late Martin Crowe and Graham Thorpe.

New Zealand Test squad: Tom Latham (capt), Tom Blundell (wk), Kristian Clarke (Ireland Test only), Devon Conway, Zak Foulkes, Dean Foxcroft, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Michael Rae (Ireland Test only), Rachin Ravindra, Ben Sears (Ireland Test and travelling reserve for England Tests), Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner, Kane Williamson, Will Young (Ireland Test only)

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Kyle Jamieson, Will O’Rourke return to NZ Test squad for Ireland, England tours

Walter: Jamieson will bring ‘unique edge’ to NZ attack

Bracewell takes a break from red-ball cricket

Nicholls back, maiden Test call-up for Foxcroft

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