Alex Davidson/Getty Images
Kane Williamson will be back in T20 and ODI colours for New Zealand in the West Indies.
Kane Williamson returns to lead a strong 15-player Black Caps squad for a white ball tour of the West Indies.
It is New Zealand first visit there since 2014.
Williamson, Trent Boult, Devon Conway and Tim Southee all returned home following the three-match test series in England, which ended in late June. Tom Latham followed them after captaining the side in the ODI series in Ireland while Matt Henry’s tour also ended after the Ireland ODIs, as he left the squad to play for Kent in county cricket.
But they are all back in action as New Zealand intensifies their buildup to the T20 World Cup starting in Australia this October, and qualification points on the line for next year’s ODI World Cup in India.
READ MORE:
* Hard running helps Black Caps as focus turns from Ireland to Scotland and the Netherlands
* Back Chat: Cricket coach Grant Bradburn on BazBall, Kane Williamson and guitars
* Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell lead Black Caps to Twenty20 clean sweep over Ireland
With a tight tour schedule featuring six matches in 11 days across Jamaica (three T20Is) and Barbados (three ODIs) the selectors have balanced a combined squad across both formats.
Newer players Finn Allen and Michael Bracewell get further opportunities on the back of strong recent form.
“It’s always exciting to be heading somewhere you’ve not been in a while and I know this group can’t wait for the challenge of taking on the West Indies in the Caribbean,” coach Gary Stead said.
“Managing workloads is hugely important this year with the team playing some form of cricket every month in 2022 – and this applies to both players and staff.
“For Kane, Trent, Tim and Devon, this will be the first time they have played white ball cricket for New Zealand since last year’s T20 World Cup and tour to India – so this trip will be important for them.
“We also have players such as Michael and Finn who are relatively new to the international stage but have really put their hands up for selection when given opportunities.
“As a selector it’s been great to see these guys push their cases.”
Stead will be supported on the tour by Dean Brownlie as batting coach and Graeme Aldridge as bowling coach.
The squad will arrive in two groups to Jamaica with some travelling from New Zealand and the balance from the Netherlands.
BLACK CAPS SQUAD FOR WEST INDIES TOUR
Kane Williamson (c), Finn Allen, Trent Boult, Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee.