New Zealand Cricket announced a 16-member squad on 1st July for the upcoming five-match One Day International (ODI) series against the West Indies. Experienced fast bowler Jacob Duffy returns to the national side after a short break for the birth of his first child.
The series begins on July 11 in Guyana and serves as vital preparations for the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. Experienced all-rounder Mitchell Santner will captain the side throughout the Caribbean tour.
Jacob Duffy Returns to Black Caps Squad
Jacob Duffy rejoins the New Zealand pace attack following his absence from the recent Test series victory over England. He last represented the Black Caps during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup earlier this year. Consequently, his return provides significant experience to a bowling group missing several veteran players.
⚡️ Jacob Duffy returns to New Zealand’s ODI side for West Indies tour pic.twitter.com/2PoynWgLIN
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) July 1, 2026
Duffy currently holds the Sir Richard Hadlee Medal as New Zealand’s reigning player of the year. Head coach Rob Walter described Duffy as a stand-out performer across all formats over the last two years. Therefore, the coaching staff expects him to provide essential leadership and depth to the pace department during the five matches in Guyana and Barbados.
Matthew Fisher Earns Maiden ODI Call-Up
The selectors also included 26-year-old speedster Matthew Fisher in the 16-man group. This selection marks Fisher’s first-ever call-up to the ODI squad. Although he has played one Test match and one T20 International for New Zealand, he has yet to make his debut in the 50-over format.
Maiden ODI call-up for Matt Fisher ✅
Jacob Duffy returns 🔙
Rachin Ravindra to miss the series due to his MLC commitments ❌
New Zealand have announced their squad for the five-match ODI series against West Indies 🇳🇿#WIvNZ #Cricket pic.twitter.com/MiucveU9xT
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) July 1, 2026
Coach Walter praised Fisher’s consistent performances in domestic cricket. Walter also praised Fisher for his ability to bowl at a good pace and his commitment to developing different variations for different phases of an innings. The team understands that Fisher’s adaptability to match situations makes him an important addition to the team.
Injury Blow for Ben Sears Before Caribbean Tour
Ben Sears will not be travelling to the West Indies and will head home to New Zealand for treatment. He started to feel pain in his ankle during a four-day Test against Ireland in May. However, the injury flared up significantly on the final day of the third Test against England at Trent Bridge.
New Zealand have named their squad ahead of a five-match ODI series against the West Indies 💪
Full details 👉 https://t.co/Z8Xw8yNLNC pic.twitter.com/eBTcfxVIpz
— ICC (@ICC) July 2, 2026
Medical staff made the precautionary decision to send Sears back to New Zealand to prevent further damage. This injury is a disappointment for Sears, who was originally named in the 16-man squad following his recent performances against England.
Ben Lister Named as Replacement Bowler
Auckland Aces bowler Ben Lister will join the team in Guyana over the next few days to take Sears’ place. Lister is an experienced white-ball player who has already represented New Zealand in 17 international matches. He made his ODI debut in 2023 against Pakistan in Karachi and has taken 17 wickets across all formats for the Black Caps.
Lister last played for the national team during the ODI series against Bangladesh in April. His left-arm pace brings a different angle to the New Zealand bowling attack, which could be useful on the Guyana and Barbados pitches.
An update to the squad ahead of the five-match ODI series against West Indies starting in Guyana on July 12.
More | https://t.co/KeSxHKIMGe pic.twitter.com/1qVgLRkeow
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) July 2, 2026
New Zealand Updated ODI Lineup: Mitchell Santner (Captain), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Kristian Clarke, Jacob Duffy, Matthew Fisher, Dean Foxcroft, Mitch Hay, Nick Kelly, Tom Latham, Jayden Lennox, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Ben Lister, Nathan Smith, Will Young
Missing Stars: Conway and Ravindra
The squad also lacks two key top-order players due to personal and professional reasons. Devon Conway will miss the series to spend time with his family following the birth of his second child. The team has also given leave to all-rounder Rachin Ravindra to play in the Major League Cricket (MLC) tournament in the USA.
This New Zealand lineup brings in experienced wicketkeeper Tom Latham to add some stability to the middle order. Also, players like Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell and Will Young will need to shoulder the scoring burden in the Caribbean heat.
Building Toward the 2027 Cricket World Cup
Coach Rob Walter views this tour as an important foundation for the future. The next ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup is scheduled to be played in 2027 in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. The New Zealand coaching staff wants to test the depth in their squad and also bring in some new players into the ODI environment.
“I’m excited for the energy and excitement Duffy and Fisher will bring to the group,” Walter said. “I think the young players will learn a lot from playing in Caribbean conditions.” With the team in transition between World Cup cycles, these games will be a good opportunity to try out the best combinations for the future.
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