• New Zealand has named a 15-man team for the next three-match Test series against England, which begins on June 2.
• Kane Williamson returns to the Test side for the first time since December 2021.
• Trent Boult is unlikely to play in the first Test.
• Meanwhile, Michael Bracewell, an uncapped wicket-keeper batsman, has been selected.
Here are some further details
New Zealand’s pace effort suffers a setback.
• Given that he came to London after the IPL, Boult may not be ready for the first Test.
• The left-arm bowler was a member of the Rajasthan Royals squad that faced Gujarat Titans in the final.
• Due to a calf issue, Henry Nicholls may be unable to play in the series opener.
• The speed attack will be led by Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Kyle Jamieson, and Matt Henry.
Duffy and Tickner are out; Fletcher is in the mix. First appearance in a test
• The extended team included Pacers Jacob Duffy and Blair Tickner, as well as all-rounder Rachin Ravindra.
• The trio, however, did not make the final cut for the show.
• In the meanwhile, wicket-keeper Cam Fletcher will be eager to make an impact.
• In 72 FC games, he has 3,179 runs at an average of 35.32. (six hundreds, 16 fifties).
• He’s hauled in 232 catches and caused 13 stumpings.
Bracewell would be happy to get started
• Michael Bracewell, who has been named as a backup for Nicholls, will be hoping for a chance to shine if one arises.
• Bracewell, a top-order batsman, has 5,262 runs in 96 FC games.
• He has 11 hundreds and 22 fifties to his credit.
The 15-man New Zealand team for the three-match series against England
New Zealand team Kane Williamson (captain), Tom Blundell (wicketkeeper), , Trent Boult, Cam Fletcher (wicketkeeper), Colin de Grandhomme, Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Henry Nicholls, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Michael Bracewell (first Test), Ajaz Patel, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, and Will Young are the members of the Test squad.
The England-New Zealand Test series schedule
• The first Test will be held at Lord’s Cricket Ground (June 2-6).
• The second Test will be held at Trent Bridge (June 10-14).
• The final Test will be held at Headingley (June 23-27).
In 2021, New Zealand had won the two-match series in England
• Williamson had guided New Zealand to a 1-0 series victory in England ahead to the ICC World Test Championship final in 2021.
• Devon Conway, a top-order batter, was the series’ leading run scorer.
• At 76.50, he had notched up 306 runs.
• In the series, Southee and Wagner had each taken seven scalps.
• In the second Test, a must-win match at Edgbaston, Boult had taken six wickets.
Standings for the 2021-23 ICC World Test Championship
• New Zealand is currently ranked sixth in the World Touring Championships (PCT 38.89).
• In three series, the reigning champions had two victories, three losses, and one tie.
• They drew 1-1 with SA in their previous series.
• Meanwhile, England is in last place (PCT 12.5).
• In this cycle, they have one win, seven losses, and four draws.
• Last but not least, they had lost 1-0 against WI.