O’Rourke’s career reaches new heights
The towering figure of 1.97m-tall Canterbury fast bowler Will O'Rourke is the bolter in the Black Caps' ODI squad to face Bangladesh later this month.
The 22-year-old was born in Kingston upon Thames in England before returning to New Zealand, where his parents are from, as a young child, and is one of three uncapped players named in a 14-strong squad.
If he makes his debut, he will be the first England-born cricketer to play for the Black Caps since Torquay-born batter Roger Twose, who was something of a cult hero in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Central Districts all-rounder Josh Clarkson and Auckland Aces leg-spinner Adi Ashok are the other two who will be eyeing their first one-day international appearances in the three-match series, starting on December 17.
O’Rourke was a member of the New Zealand team at the 2020 Under-19 Cricket World Cup and was awarded his first domestic contract by Canterbury in 2021, having shifted south from Auckland for university.
Since making his debuts for the red-and-blacks in all three formats early last year, he has taken 50 first-class wickets at an average of 28.02, 27 one-day wickets at an average of 23.25, and 12 T20 wickets at an average of 27.50.
His efforts were rewarded with a call-up to the New Zealand A team for their matches against Australia A at the end of last summer and the start of this one, where he took nine wickets in two first-class matches and seven in two one-day matches.
O’Rourke has good height and bowls faster than most of his domestic counterparts, around 135-140kph, making him an attractive prospect as the Black Caps look to refresh their ageing seam-bowling stocks.
Clarkson, 26, has repeatedly impressed at domestic level with his power hitting, while Ashok, 21, made his T20 international debut against the United Arab Emirates in August.
Six three-format Black Caps have been rested for the Bangladesh ODIs, which will be the last 50-over matches the team plays for almost 12 months – Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee and Kane Williamson.
Six players were not considered for selection due to injury – Michael Bracewell (Achilles), Matt Henry (hamstring), Lockie Ferguson (Achilles), James Neesham (ankle), Ben Lister (hamstring) and Henry Shipley (back) – while opening bowler Trent Boult made himself unavailable.
Tom Latham will captain the side, with Finn Allen, Tom Blundell, Mark Chapman, Henry Nicholls, Rachin Ravindra, Will Young and Clarkson the other batters.
Ish Sodhi will only play the first match in Dunedin before being replaced by Ashok for matches two and three, with Ravindra the other spin option included.
Jacob Duffy, Kyle Jamieson and Adam Milne will be joined by O’Rourke and Clarkson as seam options.
The ODI series against Bangladesh begins in Dunedin on December 17, then heads to Nelson on December 20 and Napier on December 23.
A three-match T20 series follows in Napier and Mount Maunganui before wrapping up on New Year’s Eve.