New Zealand Test squad announced for the tour of England

A 20 member New Zealand Test squad announced for 2 match series against England in May-June 2021. Rachin Ravindra and Jacob Duffy earned maiden call ups to Test squad while Doug Bracewell who last played in 2016 for the Blackcaps in the longer format, made it to the Test squad.

Captain Kane Williamson will lead the team, meaning he might skip the playoffs stage of IPL if Sunrisers Hyderabad makes it. The squad also has Mitchell Santner (CSK), Kyle Jamieson (RCB) and Trent Boult (MI) who might have to leave the team in the later stages of the tournament. Reports coming though that the players involved in playoffs are set to miss at least the first Test and hence will be a part of IPL cricket.

New Zealand announced an extended squad of 20 members including the likes of Devon Conway, Colin de Grandhomme etc.

New Zealand Squad:

Kane Williamson (c), Tom Blundell, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling (wk), Will Young, Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Devon Conway, Colin de Grandhomme, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell

Blackcaps will play Somerset in a 4-day warm up match starting from May 25. The first test begins on June 2 at Lord’s, London while the second test is scheduled to take place at Edgbaston, Birmingham on June 10. With enough experience in the English conditions, New Zealand will take on India in the final of ICC World Test Championship on June 18 at Southampton.

New Zealand is ranked no.2 in the ICC Test rankings while England is ranked no.4