New Zealand confirm squad for England tour and World Test Championship final

The 20-strong group will be reduced for the clash against India at The Ageas Bowl starting on June 18

The Cricketer | 08/04/2021 at 12:20

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Rachin Ravindra, Jacob Duffy and Devon Conway have been handed their maiden Test call-ups for New Zealand's tour of England in June.

A 20-strong group has been confirmed for the trip, which will be reduced to 15 for the World Test Championship final against India starting from June 18 at The Ageas Bowl.

The Kiwis first face England in two Tests at Lord's and Edgbaston from June 2 and 10.

Colin de Grandhoome and Ajaz Patel return after injury prevented them from participating in the international summer.

Doug Bracewell, whose last Test outing came in 2016 against South Africa, has been recalled after averaging 26 with the ball and 43 with the bat for Central Stags in red-ball cricket.

Kane Williamson, Trent Boult, Kyle Jamieson and Mitchell Santner are all included despite their participation in the upcoming Indian Premier League.

Lockie Ferguson is also omitted to give him extra time to recover from a partial-stress fracture to his back, though he will represent Kolkata Knight Riders in India.

Squad News | @cricketwgtninc 21-year-old all-rounder Rachin Ravindra and @OtagoVolts swing-bowler Jacob Duffy have earned their maiden call-ups to the BLACKCAPS Test squad for the upcoming tour of England.

Details | https://t.co/X40v0AejeL #ENGvNZ pic.twitter.com/G9YNTn9Xnn
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) April 7, 2021

Decisions on the participation of the quintet in the Tests will be only be made once their IPL teams have exited the competition.

For those players available, a training camp will be held in early next month before the squad departs for England in two separate groups on May 16 and 17.

Head coach Gary Stead said: "Rachin’s been earmarked as a star of the future since his Under-19 days and we’ve been really encouraged by the advancement in his game this season, with both bat and ball.

"Jacob’s been a consistent performer on the domestic circuit and his ability to swing the ball made him a particularly compelling option with a Dukes ball in English conditions.

"Test cricket really is the pinnacle of the game and I know both guys are extremely excited at the prospect of joining the team in England."

New Zealand squad: Kane Williamson (c), Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Devon Conway, Colin de Grandhomme, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling (wk), Will Young

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