W illiamson to lead NZ in their white-ball tour of W est Indies

WELLINGTON: New Zealand’s regular skipper Kane Williamson returns to lead a 15-member side on their first trip to the West Indies since 2014.

Apart from Williamson, pacers Trent Boult and Tim Southee make a return to the ODI and T20I squads for the tour of the Caribbean.

“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,” said New Zealand head 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,” he added.

Stead will be assisted by former New Zealand internationals Dean Brownlie (bating coach) and Graeme Aldridge (bowling coach) during the West Indies tour.

New Zealand have also retained all-rounder Michael Bracewell, who had a dream time during the white-ball series in Ireland, and youngster Finn Allen among others members from their European trip. The squad will arrive in two groups to Jamaica with some traveling from New Zealand and the balance from the Netherlands.

New Zealand’s tour of the West Indies has three T20IS and as many ODIS across Jamaica and Barbados respectively, starting from August 11 with the shortest format of the game.

New Zealand are currently in Scotland, where they will play two T20IS on July 27 and 29 followed by a one-off ODI on July 31.

They will then depart for the Netherlands, where they play back-to-back T20IS on August 4 and 5, before the players who are part of the West Indies tour depart for the Caribbean.

New Zealand odi and t20i squad: Kane Williamson (captain), Finn Allen, Trent Boult, Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Mat Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi and Tim Southee