Kane Williamson will not feature in New Zealand’s three-match T20I series against England later this month, though both he and the selectors are confident he will be ready when the 50-over games begin a fortnight later.
The 35-year-old arrived back in Auckland on Thursday after a county stint with Middlesex and has not played for his country since March’s Champions Trophy final in Dubai. A casual-contract player with New Zealand Cricket (NZC), Williamson had already sat out the recent trip to Australia and the tour of Zimbabwe to honour that county deal.
Head coach Rob Walter explained the thinking behind another short spell on the sidelines. “He’s obviously a world class player and we’re hoping these two weeks will ensure he’s ready for the ODIs against England and the following tour by [the] West Indies,” Walter said, adding that the batter had also been managing “a minor medical issue” over the past month.
Santner back in charge
Mitchell Santner returns from abdominal surgery and resumes the white-ball captaincy. The left-arm spinner’s comeback is timely given the length of New Zealand’s injury list and the demands England’s hitters usually place on slow bowlers. Fast bowler Ben Sears is the latest casualty; a torn left hamstring picked up at training will keep him out for three to four weeks.
Team-mate and long-time friend Rachin Ravindra, however, is available again after the freak facial injury that ruled him out of the Australia series. The all-rounder collided with the boundary boards during fielding drills at Bay Oval and has spent the intervening fortnight under medical observation.
Finn Allen (foot), Adam Milne (ankle), Will O’Rourke (back), Glenn Phillips (groin) and Lockie Ferguson (hamstring) also remain on the treatment table.
Competition for spin slots
Wrist-spinner Ish Sodhi, the country’s most-capped T20I cricketer, has been omitted. Instead, Santner, Michael Bracewell and Ravindra provide the primary spin options, with Mark Chapman on hand for occasional left-arm darts if conditions dictate.
“It’s great to have Mitch back,” Walter said. “Alongside being our leader, he’s one of the very best white-ball spinners in the world and his skills and experience will be a welcome addition.
“Likewise, it’s nice to welcome back Rachin who was unlucky to miss out on Australia and I know is really excited for this series.”
Neesham eyes another World Cup tilt
Jimmy Neesham’s form against Australia—4 for 26 in Mount Maunganui—earns him another call-up. The all-rounder, 35 last month, makes no secret of his longer-term goal. “I want to win a World Cup for New Zealand and that’s the reason I’m still playing and I’m still available,” Neesham said after that match. “It’s a very, very clear goal of mine. What happens with selection in the six months leading up to the tournament i”.
He was cut off mid-sentence by a nearby loudspeaker, but the message was already clear: Neesham intends to be around for India-Sri Lanka 2026.
Jamieson, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy and rookie seamer Zak Foulkes retain their spots, while uncapped batter Bevon Jacobs—fresh from a prolific domestic winter—travels as cover.
What it means
Williamson’s absence gives younger batters another audition against a high-quality attack. It also places extra responsibility on Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell in the top order. New Zealand have leaned on their depth repeatedly over the past 18 months; that depth will be tested yet again before the senior man is expected to return in the longer white-ball format.
The first T20I is in Christchurch next Thursday, followed by matches in Wellington and Napier. The ODI series starts in Hamilton on 1 November, when both selectors and supporters hope to see their captain back at No. 3.
