46
Michael Bracewell to Lead Blackcaps Against Pakistan in T20I Series
The KFC T20I Series Schedule & Squad Details
| Squad Announcement | Details |
|---|---|
| Captain | Michael Bracewell, at 34, will captain the Blackcaps for the first time on home soil. |
| First Match | The series kicks off at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, on March 16, 2024, with Pakistan coming to town. |
| Recent Performance | Bracewell starred in the recent ICC Champions Trophy, helping the Blackcaps to a runner-up finish. |
| Campaign Details | Bracewell has 66 international appearances, having debuted in 2022 for the Blackcaps in all three formats. He earlier led the White-ball tour of Pakistan in April 2022. |
Series Overview and Key Players
| T20I Series Insights | Details |
|---|---|
| White-Ball Captain | Mitch Santner has done an exceptional job, and Bracewell aims to build on this foundation. |
| Pakistan’s Threat | Pakistan will bring their typical power and pace in this short-form series and are eager to recover from an early tournament exit. |
| Support and Expectations | The Blackcaps will enjoy the backing of a home crowd and are thrilled to compete in front of full venues. |
Squad Selection and Dynamics
| Squad Selection | Details |
|---|---|
| Mitch Santner | Ish Sodhi returns after missing the Sri Lankan series. Ben Sears recovers from a torn hamstring. If selected, the trio of Finn Allen, Jimmy Neesham, and Tim Seifert will play in build-up seriess to the 2025 ICC T20 World Cup. |
| Kyle Jamieson and Will O’Rourke | Managed for workload with only first three games, as selectors monitor pace bowlers returning from the Champions Trophy. |
| Matt Henry | Subject to further assessment once the ODI squad returns and bowls in games 4 & 5 after being the leading wicket-taker despite injury. |
| Other Returns | Tom Robinson, Zak Foulkes, Mitch Hay, Daryl Mitchell rejoin, and Mark Chapman provides top-order batting experience, with KS Williamson unavailable for selection and DV Jacobs focusing on IPL commitments. |
The Squad
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Captain | Michael Bracewell (captain) |
| Top Order | Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Tim Robinson, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Mitch Hay |
| All-Rounder | Kyle Jamieson, Will O’Rourke |
| Spin Bowlers | Ish Sodhi, Matt Henry (Games 4 & 5) |
| Fast Bowlers | Zak Foulkes, Ben Sears, Matt Henry, |
Preparation and Goals
| Coaching and prep | Details |
|---|---|
| Coaching Staff | Gary Stead, batting coach Luke Ronchi, and bowling coach Jacob Oram. |
| Assembling the Squad | The team will convene in Christchurch on March 14, 2024. Each game in the series will be a double-header, featuring the T20 World Champion WHITE FERNS going head-to-head with Sri Lanka and Australia respectively. |
| Broadcast | All matches will air live on TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+, with radio commentaries through Sport Nation. |
Match Schedule
| Match | Date | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Double-Header | Sunday 16 March 2024 | Hagley Oval, Christchurch | WHITE FERNS v Sri Lanka – 10:15am, BLACKCAPS v Pakistan – 2:15pm |
| 2nd Double-Header | Tuesday 18 March 2024 | University of Otago Oval, Dunedin | WHITE FERNS v Sri Lanka – 10:15am, BLACKCAPS v Pakistan – 2:15pm |
| 3rd Double-Header | Friday 21 March 2024 | Eden Park, Auckland | WHITE FERNS v Australia – 2:45pm, BLACKCAPS v Pakistan – 7:15pm |
| 4th Double-Header | Sunday 23 March 2024 | Bay Oval, Tauranga | WHITE FERNS v Australia – 2:45pm, BLACKCAPS v Pakistan – 7:15pm |
| 5th Double-Header | Wednesday 25 March 2024 | Sky Stadium, Wellington | WHITE FERNS v Australia – 2:45pm, BLACKCAPS v Pakistan – 7:15pm |
For the complete New Zealand Cricket Schedule.