Matt Fisher will pack his kit bag for Bulawayo later this month after being named in New Zealand’s squad for the two-match series against Zimbabwe. The 25-year-old quick, capable of nudging 140kph, steps in with several senior names on leave or on the treatment table.
Kane Williamson is still off the Test roster, having already committed to Middlesex and the London Spirit for the Hundred. All-rounder Michael Bracewell has made a similar choice, turning out for MI New York in Major League Cricket before joining Southern Brave on a £200,000 Hundred deal.
Head coach Rob Walter was matter-of-fact about the absentees. “Kane and Michael were up front with New Zealand Cricket about their availability for this tour during the contracting process,” Walter said. “While all Test matches are hugely special and important, the fact these Tests aren’t part of the ICC World Test Championship did influence the discussions on this occasion.”
Kyle Jamieson (awaiting the birth of his first child) and Ben Sears (side strain) are also missing. Sears is expected to need another fortnight, maybe a touch more, before he can bowl flat-out again.
Fisher’s first-class numbers are tidy: 51 wickets from 14 games at 24.11. Those who watched him for New Zealand A in Bengaluru back in 2022 might remember the dismissal of Rajat Patidar, banged in short, feather of glove, simple grab at fine leg. Not headline stuff, but it showed he has some hustle.
“Matt’s someone we’re really excited about,” Walter said. “He’s one of the fastest bowlers in the country and we think he’s got an X-factor. We’re blessed to have a large number of strong fast bowlers in this country and we’re looking forward to adding Matt into that mix now, giving him a little bit of touring experience and a taste of what it means to be part of the Black Caps.”
Jacob Duffy, the top-ranked T20I bowler on the ICC charts, is the other uncapped seamer in the group. The rest of the pace unit – Will O’Rourke, Matt Henry and Nathan Smith – underlines the shift towards a post-Southee, post-Boult future, uncomfortable as that still sounds.
There is positive news for the spin department. Ajaz Patel is back after the calf niggle that ruled him out of the last home summer. His most recent Test, that dizzy Mumbai match in December 2024, brought him 11 wickets and a souvenir stump; he has barely bowled in anger since, so a dry Zimbabwe surface should suit.
Henry Nicholls also returns, having piled up 464 runs at 116 in the Plunket Shield. The left-hander’s domestic form forced the selectors’ hands, even though New Zealand appear well-stocked for middle-order options.
Analysis – why the low-key approach?
These matches don’t count towards the World Test Championship. That simple fact has created breathing room: players can chase overseas deals without jeopardising points, and selectors can blood fresh quicks without risking the table. For Fisher, it’s a bonus – lower-stakes cricket but still the real thing.
Zimbabwe, meanwhile, will not care about New Zealand’s bigger picture. They have struggled for meaningful long-form fixtures and will view two home Tests as a chance to nick ranking points and gate receipts. It is no secret they fancy spin in Bulawayo; Patel versus Sikandar Raza could be fun.
There is, of course, a broader conversation about central contracts, the Hundred, MLC, and who pays whom. That can wait. For now the headline is simple enough: new ball in Fisher’s hand, responsibility on Nicholls’ bat, and Williamson watching from Lord’s pavilion rather than Kwekwe hotel. That feels a fair compromise in 2025.
Provisional New Zealand squad: Tom Latham (capt), Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wk), Glenn Phillips, Matt Henry, Will O’Rourke, Jacob Duffy, Nathan Smith, Matt Fisher, Ajaz Patel.
