Scott Kuggeleijn has been brought into the New Zealand squad to play the Test series against Australia after fast bowler Kyle Jamieson was ruled out with a back injury.
Kuggeleijn, who made his Test debut against England at Bay Oval last summer, is selected after strong performances for New Zealand A against Australia A last year, including match figures of 9-113 and an unbeaten 101 to lead the team to victory in the first four-day ‘Test’.
The Northern Districts paceman has continued his form in the Plunket Shield, leading the wicket-taking charts with 22 wickets at 16 from the first four rounds.
Selector Sam Wells said Kuggeleijn’s performances for New Zealand A warranted his place in the side.
“Scott performed admirably with both bat and ball on the recent New Zealand A tour to Australia,” said Wells.
“He will bring genuine pace with the ball and adds extra depth with the bat which is always valuable at Test level.
Jamieson, rested in New Zealand’s second Test victory over South Africa in Hamilton after playing in the first Test, is out with a stress fracture.
Daryl Mitchell returns to the 14-man squad after also missing the second Test against South Africa and the upcoming Australia T20Is to allow a foot injury to heal.
Wells welcomed the return of Mitchell to the squad and said the Canterbury batsman’s foot was healing well.
“Everything is tracking well with Daryl.
“The decision to give him a period of rehabilitation was necessary and will allow him to be at his best for what is an important series for the team.
“He’s a key member of the group and has proven, with his performances over the past 12 to 18 months, how much value he adds to the Test team.
“Daryl will keep focusing on his rehabilitation over the next week and will be fit and ready for the first Test in Wellington.
Matt Henry and Tim Seifert have been ruled out of the upcoming T20I series against Australia and will be replaced by Ben Sears and Will Young.
Henry suffered some hip soreness following the second Test against South Africa and will require a short period of rest and strengthening to ensure he is fit for the Test series against Australia later in the month.
Seifert has been withdrawn from the squad due to a torn adductor suffered while training for Northern Districts earlier in the week.
Tim Southee and Kane Williamson are set to become the fifth and sixth Black Caps to play 100 Test matches during the Test series against Australia starting in Wellington later this month.
The pair are on track to bring up their 100th Tests in the second Test at Hagley Oval, following in the footsteps of Stephen Fleming, Daniel Vettori, Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor.
Will O’Rourke retains his place after a memorable Test debut against South Africa, where he claimed the best ever match figures for New Zealand in Tests (9-93), including his maiden Test five-wicket bag (5-34).
Mitchell Santner continues as the specialist spin bowling option, while recent Test double-century maker Rachin Ravindra and allrounder Glenn Phillips also add spin bowling options.
Trent Boult, who will feature in the T20I series against Australia, was not considered for Test selection due to minimal recent red ball cricket – his last Test coming in June 2022 against England in Leeds.
Michael Bracewell was not considered for selection as he continues to recover from a finger injury.
Black Caps v Australia Test series squad
Tim Southee (c) (Northern Districts), Tom Blundell (wk) (Wellington), Devon Conway (Wellington), Matt Henry (Canterbury), Scott Kuggeleijn (Northern Districts), Tom Latham (Canterbury), Daryl Mitchell (Canterbury), Will O’Rourke (Canterbury), Glenn Phillips (Otago), Rachin Ravindra (Wellington), Mitchell Santner (Northern Districts), Neil Wagner (Northern Districts), Kane Williamson (Northern Districts), Will Young (Central Districts).
Black Caps T20I squad v Australia
Mitchell Santner (c), Finn Allen, Trent Boult (games 2 & 3), Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson*, Devon Conway (wk), Lockie Ferguson, Adam Milne, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Ben Sears, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee (game 1), Will Young.
*Potential T20I debut
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