Adam Milne is back in New Zealand colours next month, while uncapped batter Bevon Jacobs has forced his way in, yet Kane Williamson will not travel to Zimbabwe for the T20 tri-series that also involves South Africa.
Head coach Rob Walter confirmed the 15-strong squad on Thursday, his first since taking charge across formats. Williamson, currently with Middlesex and due to appear for London Spirit in the Hundred, made himself unavailable. Lockie Ferguson is being managed after a heavy winter, Kyle Jamieson awaits the birth of his first child and Ben Sears is sidelined by a side strain.
Milne last played a T20 international in February 2024, missing the most recent World Cup following ankle surgery. The 32-year-old has impressed for Texas Super Kings in Major League Cricket, claiming nine wickets in four outings and regularly touching 145 kph.
Jacobs, 24, received a maiden call-up over Christmas but is yet to debut. The hard-hitting left-hander enjoyed a breakout domestic summer and picked up an unexpected IPL deal with Mumbai Indians.
Several IPL regulars – Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra and captain Mitchell Santner among them – return after missing March’s home series against Pakistan. Devon Conway, however, remains outside the T20 set-up and continues rehab from a thumb injury.
“I think we’ve got a really strong squad for this tour and I’m looking forward to getting the team together and getting into the work,” Walter said. “We’ve got some good experience in the side and it’s nice to be able to welcome back a few of the players who missed the March series against Pakistan because of the IPL.”
He expects competitive cricket in Harare. “It should be a great T20 tri-series with South Africa who are a very strong side and Zimbabwe who play well at home in their own conditions.”
Milne strengthens an otherwise depleted pace group. “Adam’s a really skilled T20 bowler, he’s particularly proficient with the ball up front and brings that extra pace and bounce,” Walter noted. “With the likes of Lockie Ferguson, Ben Sears and Kyle Jamieson out it’s great to be able to lean on an experienced head in Adam.”
On Jacobs, Walter added: “Bevon’s been an outstanding performer in domestic cricket and has gained some experience in franchise leagues around the world, so it’ll be a good chance for him to get back into the squad and potentially play.”
The coach will be assisted by Luke Ronchi, Jake Oram and James Foster in Zimbabwe. He views the trip as an early step towards the 2026 T20 World Cup. “With the T20 World Cup around the corner, all of our upcoming series are critically important to our build up. This series gives us the opportunity to test the breadth of our squad, explore different players and potentially different combinations against some quality opposition.”
New Zealand open against South Africa on 16 July, just two days after the Major League Cricket final. New Zealand Cricket has left the door open to late replacements should any squad members be delayed by franchise commitments. Following the T20Is, the tourists remain in the country for two Tests in Bulawayo.
New Zealand men’s T20I squad
Mitch Santner (capt), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Adam Milne, Tim Seifert (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Ish Sodhi, Bevon Jacobs, Will Young, Michael Rippon, Jimmy Neesham, Blair Tickner
