Wellington: New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has appointed Mitchell Santner as the interim captain for the forthcoming white-ball series against Sri Lanka.
NZC has confirmed that a new captain for both ODI and T20I matches will be announced during the summer. This new captain, an experienced spinner, will lead a 15-man squad that includes uncapped all-rounder Nathan Smith and wicketkeeper-batter Mitchell Hay.
In March, Nathan Smith was recently honored with the title of NZC's Men's Domestic Player of the Year at the New Zealand Cricket Awards. He has also secured his first central contract in the same month.
During his tenure with Wellington last season, Smith achieved an impressive tally of 24 wickets across all domestic white-ball competitions, including his career-best figures of 4/5 against Otago in the Super Smash.
Mitchell Hay made his debut for New Zealand A the previous year and was recognized as Canterbury's Male Player of the Year in April.
The batting lineup will be reinforced by Glenn Phillips, Will Young, and Henry Nicholls. This trio will provide additional support with Nicholls delivering a notable performance in the Ford Trophy last summer, scoring 301 runs in six matches at an average of 75.25. Tim Robinson received his second selection for the team after a successful debut in his first international tour with Pakistan in April.
Michael Bracewell and Phillips will form a formidable spin-bowling partnership in the team. The pace bowling lineup will be led by Lockie Ferguson, which includes Smith, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, and Josh Clarkson.
Six players, who are currently participating in New Zealand's Test series against India, have been included in the squad.
Tom Blundell, Devon Conway, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will O'Rourke, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Southee, and Kane Williamson have been overlooked for selection as they have chosen to prioritize the upcoming three Tests against England. The series is scheduled to begin in Christchurch on November 28.
"This tour against Sri Lanka marks the beginning of the build-up to the ICC Champions Trophy in February 2025, and it also sets the stage for the 2027 ODI World Cup. The inclusion of these players is a strategic move to enhance the depth of our squad, preparing us for the rigors of the international schedule and the pursuit of major tournaments. This decision is particularly exciting as it showcases our confidence in the future of the Blackcaps," stated Sam Wells, the chief selector of NZC, as reported by NZC.
The white-ball series will commence with two T20Is on November 9 and 10 in Dambulla. The three-match ODI series is scheduled to be played on November 13, 17, and 19, with the opening ODI match in Dambulla and the final two ODIs in Pallekelle.
