Jacob Duffy, New Zealand's reigning cricketer of the year, has been named in the squad for the upcoming five-match ODI series against the West Indies. The right-arm seamer missed the recently concluded Test series against England, which New Zealand won 2-1, to be present for the birth of his first child.
Duffy's Return and New Face in Pace Attack
Duffy, who holds the Sir Richard Hadlee Medal as the country's top player, will don the Black Caps jersey for the first time since the T20 World Cup final in March. Alongside him, uncapped 26-year-old speedster Matt Fisher has also been included in the pace attack. Fisher has previously played one Test and one T20I for New Zealand.
New Zealand coach Rob Walter expressed enthusiasm about the new additions: "It's great to have Jacob and Matt joining the group and I know they'll bring a lot of energy and excitement. Jacob has been a stand-out for us in all formats for the past couple of years. His skills and experience will be a great addition to our squad and I know he's looking forward to representing New Zealand again."
Under-Strength Pace Attack Excels Against England
Despite missing several key bowlers, New Zealand's pace attack was formidable in the Test series against England. Nathan Smith was the standout performer, taking 16 wickets at an average of 23 across the three matches. Smith will feature in the West Indies series, along with Ben Sears, who was a late addition for the third England Test.
Several frontline pacers have been rested for the series. Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, and Will O'Rourke will sit out to recover, while Blair Tickner is sidelined due to ankle surgery. This opens opportunities for the new and returning bowlers.
Batter Absences and Squad Composition
Devon Conway will also miss the series to spend time with his family following the birth of his second child. Rachin Ravindra has been granted permission to participate in Major League Cricket. The squad is led by Mitchell Santner, with a mix of experienced and emerging players.
The full New Zealand squad: Mitchell Santner (capt), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Kristian Clarke, Jacob Duffy, Matt Fisher, Dean Foxcroft, Mitch Hay, Nick Kelly, Tom Latham, Jayden Lennox, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, Will Young.
