Kyle Jamieson returns to the national team after more than a year. The pacer has been called up to the New Zealand team for the T20 series against the United Arab Emirates and England next month. All-rounder Dean Foxcroft and leg-spinner Adi Ashok have been called up for the first time. Kane Williamson and Michael Bracewell were ruled out for both series due to injuries.
Jamieson last played an international match in June last year. He has been sidelined ever since with a back injury during the tour of England. He was scheduled to return last February against England, but he had to undergo surgery due to the return of the injury. Then he was knocked out for a longer period of time.
New Zealand Cricket sees Jamieson’s return as a ‘major milestone’. Head coach Gary Steed said, ‘Kyle Jamieson has worked hard, made great strides to prepare himself for this tour. We are delighted to see him on tour after a difficult year. We all know about his world class skills. I know he is thrilled to be back in the team.’
New Zealand will play three T20Is against UAE in Dubai on August 17, 19 and 20. The four-match T20I series against England will begin in Durham on August 30. Then the next matches on September 1, 3 and 5 in Manchester, Birmingham and Nottingham respectively.
The series against the UAE, however, did not feature several top players. Finn Allen, Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Glenn Phillips, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell and Ish Sodhira will join the team after the hundred.
Foxcroft and Ashok were mainly called for this reason. Behind this is the form of both New Zealand ‘A’ and domestic cricket.
Foxcroft, who was born in South Africa, relocated to New Zealand in 2016. He recently received ICC approval to play for New Zealand under ‘special circumstances’. Foxcroft was named New Zealand cricket’s best domestic cricketer at the annual awards last March. He was the highest run-scorer (424) in the last edition of the domestic T20 League Super Smash, while also taking 9 wickets. Steed said of him, ‘Dean is a really consistent performer at home. His award in March is testament to that. He is a brilliant batsman, who does effective off-spin.’
On the other hand, Ashok has played for the New Zealand Under-19 team. He took 7 wickets in the last season of Super Smash. He was also praised by Steed, ‘Adi’s only second year in professional cricket. But we are impressed with his consistency. With Ish Sodhi not staying in the UAE, we have an opportunity to develop the next leg-spinner.’
New Zealand has been out of international cricket since last May. But they have a busy schedule ahead. The team wants to see limited-overs players play in these two series ahead of the T20 World Cup next year.
New Zealand squad for tour of UAE and England:
Tim Southee (captain), Finn Allen*, Adi Ashok**, Chad Bowes**, Mark Chapman, Dan Cleaver**, Devon Conway*, Lockie Ferguson, Dean Foxfort**, Matt Henry* , Kyle Jamieson, Cole McConkie**, Adam Milne*, Daryl Mitchell*, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips*, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert, Henry Shipley**, Ish Sodhi*, Will Young** *England tour